Chapter 9
To his credit, Harry didn’t flicker so much as an eyelash. “Certainly.”
Bronson left us with the officer in the hallway and disappeared into the room holding all of the contestants. Oh, man, what if he asked Aunt Betty about Swendson and she went off again?
“What if—” I started to say as much to Harry, but he was already on his phone.
I turned to the officer, who looked to be somewhere in his twenties and way out of his element, judging by the mildly panicked look in his eyes, and gave him my name and number. When I turned back, Harry was ending the call.
“It’s fine,” he said. He pulled me close and whispered in my ear, “Alistair is here with Aunt Betty. I told him not to let her answer any questions and informed him of our deep desire to adopt a puppy.”
“Smooth,” I said. With our backs to the officer, I felt confident enough to give him a discreet knuckle bump.
In a matter of minutes, Bronson returned. Viv and Alistair flanked Aunt Betty, and Freddy trotted by her side as if they were on their way for a walk in the park. Aunt Betty looked nervous but when she saw Harry, her expression cleared.
“After you, Ms. Wentworth,” Bronson said, gesturing to the open office door. He went to follow her and Freddy, but Alistair slipped in between them. Bronson frowned and closed the door after them, making it clear that the rest of us were to wait here.
“Is she going to be all right?” Viv asked.
“She’s with Alistair,” Harry said. “She’ll be fine.”
Viv nodded. I wondered what she was thinking. I also wondered what she’d said, if anything, when Alistair arrived. Knowing Viv, she had said nothing.
I supposed that I needed to let it go. Just because I saw all that was good in Alistair didn’t mean she needed to date him. Honestly, he deserved better than a woman who was lukewarm about him at best and if that woman was Fee, well, good on her.
Aware that the officer standing by the door was watching us, none of us spoke. Harry, being the restless sort, began to pace. He had to navigate his way around people who kept entering and leaving the corridor but he didn’t seem to care. Viv and I stepped out of the way and leaned up against the wall on the opposite side of the hall.
The cement was cold against my back and I shivered. Viv pressed closer to my side as if to share body heat. I said nothing and neither did Viv. I shifted my weight from foot to foot as the time dragged on, and I began to feel the stirrings of unease.
“They can’t honestly think that Aunt Betty harmed Swendson,” I said. “It’s preposterous.”
“True, but they could theorize that she had someone do it for her,” Viv said. She cast a side-eye at me. “Someone younger and stronger.”
“Me?” I asked. I was outraged. How could she even suggest—
Viv snorted. “No, not you.” She tipped her head in Harry’s direction. “But a scrappy rugby player might fit the bill, don’t you think?”
I felt my heart drop into my shoes. “No, they can’t possibly think Harry would have anything to do with it.”
Viv shrugged.
“It makes no sense,” I insisted. “Besides, there wasn’t a mark upon him—Swendson, I mean. If Harry had hurt him, he would have been banged up or bruised.”
“Well, that means he was killed by other means, like poison or suffocation,” Viv said. “Anyone could have done that to him, including a petite, elderly woman.”
“Oh, no,” I said. The ramifications of Aunt Betty’s situation were slowly sinking in.
“Exactly,” Viv agreed.
My mind raced. We needed to know what had killed Gerry Swendson and when, so that we could make certain Aunt Betty had an alibi that stuck. It occurred to me that Bronson wasn’t likely to make any details, like cause of death, public for precisely this reason.
Harry paced by me. He turned on his heel at the end of the hallway and came back the same way. His expression was grim and I knew he was worried.
“Hey,” I said. I grabbed his hand and held him in place. “It’s going to be all right.”
“Maybe,” he said.
“She has Alistair,” Viv said. “He’ll look out for her.”
I gave her a look, and she tipped up her chin.
“Just because I don’t want to date him doesn’t mean I don’t think he’s a good attorney,” she said. It was on the tip of my tongue to ask why she didn’t want to date him but now was not the time.
“He is that,” I agreed. I squeezed Harry’s fingers with mine. “Aunt Betty is your father’s sister, right?”
“Yes,” Harry said. “His little sister. She never married or had kids of her own, so she always made time for her nieces and nephews. She’s like a second mom to us all.”
“Why didn’t she marry?” Viv asked.
I was surprised, as Viv is not one to ask anyone personal questions. We both turned to Harry.
“I don’t know,” he said. “She never found anyone she fancied enough, I expect. I know there was one tragic love affair in her twenties that held her enthralled for years but then it ended and I don’t think she ever dated again.”
“Ever?” Viv asked.
“I imagine it becomes a habit,” I said. “Keep rejecting offers and eventually it’s just second nature to say no even when it’s someone you might actually like.”
Viv let out an exasperated breath and turned away.
I leaned into Harry. “Was I too obvious?”
“Subtlety is not your gift, Ginger.” He gave me a small smile. “I’m dreading telling the family about this.”
“Maybe you should wait and see how it goes,” I said. “Perhaps Gerry Swendson died of natural causes.”
“And stuffed himself under the award dais?” he asked.
“He might have had a stroke and thought he just needed some shut-eye. Maybe he got confused and crawled in there for a nap,” I said. It sounded as flimsy as cardboard even to me. Both Viv and Harry gave me a pitying glance that I tried not to take personally.
The office door opened and Alistair stepped out, holding it wide for Aunt Betty and Freddy. I glanced past them to get a look at DI Bronson’s face. His eyes looked grim and his mouth was set in a hard line. Whatever had happened in there, he hadn’t gotten what he wanted.
I shot Alistair a grateful look but he was busy staring at Viv, who, per usual, ignored him. He ripped his gaze away and turned to Harry.
“Let’s go,” he said.
Harry nodded. He stepped up to Aunt Betty and asked, “Are you ready, Aunt B?”
“Yes, please,” she said. She reached out with an age-spotted hand that trembled and handed him Freddy’s leash. She was definitely rattled. Viv, Alistair and I fell in behind them. We decided not to go back through the contestants’ room but rather to exit out a side door at the end of the hall.
We were almost there when I heard my name called and felt a tug on my arm. I turned and there was Andre, still holding his camera but looking much better than he had when we’d discovered Swendson.
“Did you hear?” Andre asked.
“Hear what?”
“Liza Stanhope has decided to carry on with the dog show,” he said.
“What?”
“She just made the announcement,” he said.
Our group staggered to a halt.
I looked at Harry, who had clearly heard Andre’s news as his eyes were wide. We exchanged a look of understanding and I knew without him saying it that I was going to have to continue to compete because to withdraw now would make me, or more accurately Aunt Betty, look guilty, as if our only motive to be in the competition had been to murder Gerry Swendson. Damn it.
When Viv and I got back to Mim’s Whims, it was to find Fee helping four customers at once. We jumped in to assist and as soon as the last lady had left with her newly boxed hat, we collapsed onto the navy blue upholstered chairs while Fee rushed to lock the door.
“Not that I’m not thrilled with the business but it was nonstop today. Who’d have expected such a rush in February?” she asked. She slumped into her chair and put the back of her forearm on her forehead. “Never leave me again, yeah?”
“Not until tomorrow, at any rate,” I said.
“What?” she asked. She dropped her arm. “Explain.”
I glanced at Viv and asked, “Where to begin?”
“So many choices,” she said. “Aunt Betty getting banned? Finding the dog food king’s dead body? Being questioned by the police?”
“Or being told the dog show is continuing and that I’ll have to continue taking Aunt Betty’s place?”
“What?” Fee sat up. “Wait. I need tea. Anyone care for a cuppa?”
“Me,” Viv said.
“Me, too,” I said.
“Let’s take this to the workroom,” Fee said. “I think I’m going to need a biscuit or four to listen to this tale of woe.”
We rose as one and turned toward the workroom, which had a small kitchenette that we kept fully stocked for our late-afternoon tea. There was a knock on the shop door, and I glanced back to see Harry there. He had a key but it was just as easy for me to let him in.
He had taken Aunt Betty home, saying he would meet me here to talk about the situation after he got her settled. I hurried across the room and turned the dead bolt, pushing the door open to let him in.
“Hi,” I said. He had clearly stopped at home to change and was wearing jeans and a Fair Isle sweater in shades of blue under a thick black wool coat. As soon as he stepped inside, bringing a burst of cold air with him, I shut and locked the door and then turned around to hug him.
The bite of cold clung to him but I brushed it off as I wrapped my arms around him and pressed my warmth against him. He held me close and kissed the top of my head. Then he took me by the upper arms and held me away from him. He looked into my eyes as if to assure himself that I was okay.
“I’m fine,” I said. I hoped I removed all doubt. “How’s Aunt Betty?”
“Worried,” he said. “She even talked about dropping out of the dog show.”
“Really?” I asked. “But that might look suspicious, plus Freddy is at the top of the leaderboard.”
Harry grinned. He threw an arm around me and said, “Look at you, getting all competitive. Don’t worry. Her friend and neighbor is with her and they’re going to talk it out over some cottage pie.”
“Are you two joining us for tea?” Viv called from the workroom.
“On our way,” I said. I had recently bought some decadent All Butter Viennese Swirl biscuits from Marks & Spencer, and I felt as if today was the day to bust them open. I shrugged off Harry’s arm, took his hand and half led, half dragged him into the back room.
“What did Alistair have to say about the situation?” I asked. “Does he think they’ll come after Aunt Betty? Should you call your parents? What about Freddy? Should he be subjected to going back to that place? What if it damages his dog psyche?”
“Oy, easy there, Ginger,” Harry said. “I already forgot the first question.”
We entered the workroom to find Viv plating all manner of biscuits, including mine, fruit and cheeses. It was a light tea but it would hit the spot. Fee was in charge of the kettle, which was just beginning to steam. When it reached optimum whistle, she poured the hot water into the teapot and covered it with a cozy while it steeped.
I nudged Harry into a seat at the table Viv had cleared, while I went to retrieve plates and napkins from the cupboard. I passed out the plates and took the seat next to Harry. Fee poured the tea into cups and I took mine, adding just a bit of sugar and milk. The cup was warm in my hands, which I hadn’t realized were so cold.
I reached for a buttery swirl and dipped it into my tea. The biscuit absorbed just enough tea to make it crumble in my mouth, releasing the hot tea on my tongue.
“How is Aunt Betty?” Viv asked Harry.
“She’s all right,” he said. “I don’t think she completely realizes the severity of the situation.”
“That she’s a person of interest?” I asked.
“Exactly,” he said. “They don’t know the cause of death yet, but the fact that Swendson was shoved under the dais makes it look as if someone murdered him and tried to hide the body.”
“Who was the woman who fainted in the stands?” Viv asked. “She seemed quite overcome.”
“That was his wife, Tilly Swendson,” Harrison said.
Viv and I exchanged a look. I’d seen the woman for only a moment but if I remembered right, she’d looked to be at least twenty years younger than Swendson. I knew from the cousin mind meld Viv and I sometimes shared, particularly when we were being catty, that she was thinking the same thing.
“Maybe his death was a natural cause because she tuckered him out,” Viv said.
I snorted some tea and then had a coughing fit. Harry patted my back.
“Let me guess, younger woman?” Fee asked. We both nodded and she said, “So predictable.”
“Wouldn’t she be a suspect?” I asked. “I mean, it’s usually the person closest to the victim if it’s murder, right?”
“I’m sure they’re considering her,” Harry said. “I did some quick research after I dropped off Aunt Betty. Swendson’s Dog Food empire is co-owned by Gerry and his sister, Mary. I don’t know if Mary will inherit it all or if Tilly will inherit her husband’s half, but it should make the dog show really interesting since they’re the biggest sponsor and it’s going forward.”
“Speaking of the dog show,” I said, “how are they going to make up the missing agility tests from this afternoon?”
“They are doing them tonight,” Harry said. “I was hoping Aunt Betty would stay away, but since Freddy’s in the lead, she has a vested interest if Freddy stays in and wants to watch his competition.”
“I’ll say she does,” I agreed. “What time do we need to go back?”
“You’re coming?” he asked.
“Of course I am,” I said. “Freddy and I are a team.”
“You are?” Fee’s eyebrows went up.
I explained about Aunt Betty not being able to compete and Fee tipped her head to the side and said, “I’m sorry, but a person, who is in fact the sponsor, has been murdered. What are you thinking to stay in the competition? Harry, tell her she has to drop out. She could be in danger!”
“She’s right,” Harry said. “I don’t want you in harm’s way, but . . .”
“If I drop out, it will look suspicious,” I said. “I appreciate the concern but I don’t want to create undue scrutiny for Aunt Betty.”
“But what if the murderer comes after you?” Fee asked.
“Pshaw,” I said. I waved my hand in the air. “I’ll be fine. Plus, I’ll be able to mingle with all of the competitors and find out who might have wanted Swendson dead.”
“See!” Fee cried. She pointed at me and glared at Harry. “That, right there, is why she needs to stay out of it!”
“I agree,” Viv said. A frown marred her forehead. “I don’t like this, Scarlett.”
“And what about the hats?” I asked. I thought maybe I could win her over by using the business. “We’re already getting interest from the other competitors over our hats. This could be a whole new market for us.”
“I’m not having you put yourself in danger in order to drum up some business for dog hats,” Viv said. She sounded thoroughly exasperated.
“Really? One of the dog owners told me she’d pay five hundred pounds for a hat like the one Freddy was wearing,” I said. “And just think about all of the people who watch the dog shows, who would be inspired to buy a hat for their beloved Fido. I’m telling you, this is a whole new market for us and it could be huge.”
“I think she’s gone mental,” Fee said behind her hand to Viv, which was pointless because she didn’t exactly whisper.
“What’s next?” Viv asked. “A line of fezzes for cats?”
“A cat in a fez would be stupid cute,” I said.
“Or a giraffe in a bowler,” Harry said. He grinned at me.
“How about a hippopotamus in a tiara?” Viv asked.
“Or an otter in a top hat?” Fee suggested.
“All right, I get it. We don’t want to corner the market on animal millinery,” I said. I tapped one of Mim’s Whims distinctive blue-and-white-striped containers. “But you don’t have to be so harsh. I’m just thinking outside the box.”
All three of them looked at the hatbox and then at me. Not one smile. Not even a quiver of a lip at my punniness. Tough crowd.
“You’re right, you should come with Aunt Betty and me tonight, but promise me you’ll try to keep a low profile,” Harry said.
“No problem, I can totally fade into the background,” I said.
Harry gave me a dubious look. “Really, Ginger?”
“You’ll see,” I assured him.
The arena was packed. Whether it was because more people could come in the evening or because of the scandal of Swendson’s body being found, it was standing room only in the Finchley Park auditorium. I followed Harry, who managed to secure a seat for Aunt Betty in the back, which was good because she was less likely to be noticed. He and I stood against the wall at the top of the bleachers with all of the other people who were seatless.
The evening news had run a story about Swendson’s body being found but hadn’t said whether the police believed foul play to be involved. It seemed likely to me, but I knew it could be my own paranoia making me think this.
From what Harry had discovered about the dog food company, it was worth billions. Tilly Swendson stood to inherit an awful lot if Gerry had left his share of the company to her. Not surprisingly, she wasn’t in attendance at the dog show. At least, when I scanned the special VIP seating behind the judges, she wasn’t there. Interestingly, I did see Mary Swendson. She was right behind the judges. Her face looked puffy and her eyes red. Her shoulders drooped and I got the feeling it was taking every bit of her British stiff upper lip to remain and not dissolve into a heap of tears.
“I’m going to go do some recon in the contestants’ room,” I said.
“What?” Harry asked. “No.”
“But I have access,” I said. I held up my badge to remind him of my status.
“I don’t want you wandering off by yourself,” he said. “We don’t know if or how or why Swendson was murdered. You could walk right into danger and not know it.”
“I promise I’ll be careful,” I said. “I’m just going to eavesdrop to find out what everyone is saying. Besides, Andre is back there taking pictures. I’ll stay with him.”
Harry opened his mouth to say something but the loudspeaker cut in with a burst of music and then the announcer introduced Mary Swendson. I watched her rise from her seat and approach the microphone. She looked so different from this morning. There was a fragility about her that made it seem a harsh word or a strong breeze would shatter her into a thousand pieces.
The room was silent as the gaze of every person in the room was on her. She cleared her throat and then did it again. She leaned closer to the microphone and looked up, her eyes sweeping from one side of the room to the other. It seemed hard to believe that just ten hours had passed since I’d first seen her behind the registration table, greeting Freddy with kind words and a warm smile.
“Good evening, ladies and gentleman,” she said. Her voice was soft and the crowd grew silent as everyone strained to hear what she had to say. “The PAWS dog show meant everything to my brother, Gerry.” She took a steadying breath. “It is for him that I am here now, recommitting our company to its charitable contribution to the dog show he loved so well and the many shelters that will benefit from the money raised here. In fact, in Gerry’s memory, Swendson’s Dog Food will be matching all contributions made to the PAWS Foundation for the duration of the competition.”
I choked. Even I knew that the dog show raised several hundred thousand pounds every year. This was a huge sum of money. A murmur rippled through the crowd and then the applause started. It became deafening. Mary raised her hand in a small wave and then brushed a tear off her face. She looked overcome by the crowd’s response. Without another word, she turned and sat down.
“Wow,” I said to Harry.
“Indeed,” he agreed. Before he could argue, I kissed him quick and scampered off, taking the opportunity to hurry down the bleacher steps, allowing the crowd to fill in behind me, effectively keeping Harry in place while I went to chat up my fellow dog show crowd to see what I could find out.
I showed my credentials and was able to leave the arena behind and slip into the waiting area. If there had been a manic energy this morning, now it was at a fever pitch. I saw the Youngs with Henry. They were both bent over, speaking to him while he sat looking up at them. I couldn’t figure out if they were giving him a pep talk or a lecture. I just knew that his ears were back and his tail was not wagging. He was not enjoying the conversation, whatever it was.
I moved among the people prepping their dogs. I tried to look as if I had a purpose to be there, which was a flagrant fib because I didn’t have a dog with me. I hoped that no one would notice and call me out for having competed already that day.
I really didn’t know what I was looking for. Did I really think someone was just going to pop up and confess? No. But I knew the gossip would be off the rails. When I worked in the hotel industry, managing the staff, I was always amazed at how fast the tale of the bad behavior of one guest or sometimes an employee could circulate through the building. I knew the dog show would be no different. If there was info to be had about Swendson’s death, this was where I’d hear it.
I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. It was a text from Harrison asking about my progress. Well, that was easy to answer with a thumbs-down.
I looked for Andre but he was out on the course, snapping pictures of the dog that was competing at the moment. I heard a collective groan from the crowd so I figured the dog had messed up something. The bad part of me was happy because it meant Freddy would keep his number one spot at least for a little while.
I scanned the room. I saw several people grooming their dogs as if getting them in the right Zen frame of mind. Some were warming up on special apparatus, like hoops or steps, and others were just hanging out, killing time until their name was called. I stayed out of the middle of the room and worked the perimeter, listening to the chatter.
“I think his wife did it,” one woman said to the person standing beside her. They were ignoring their dogs while they chatted and I noticed that one dog, a tall hound, was trying to nip the other, a German pointer, who was perched on a chair, but the women were oblivious.
“Nah, I heard she got cut out of the will,” the other one said. “It’s all going to the sister.”
“Speaking of which, can you believe she’s here?” the first woman said. She pulled her dog away and gave him the command to sit, which lasted all of five seconds before he stood on his back legs and tried to put his mouth on the other dog’s neck. “What sort of deep freeze is her heart in if she’s not even grieving the death of her brother enough to miss the dog show?”
“Well, they do spend a fortune sponsoring it. She’s likely trying to keep an eye on her investment.”
I nodded. I had to agree with that.
“Beg pardon, can we help you?” one of the women asked.
I felt myself go still. Had they seen me nod? Had they caught me listening? I could feel my face get warm with embarrassment. Curse this fair freckled skin!