Saddled Up 4 Murder Read online

  “If she uses the same supermarket I do, buying the deli meats was probably worse than trimming the dog. Of course, that’s not an issue now. Wow. I can’t believe I’m being so catty. Especially since the woman who worked there was found dead. Oh, my goodness. Is that why you came to the park? To ask me if I know anything about it?”

  “Well, yes, as a matter of fact. My mother’s pitching a fit because the sheriff’s office has sealed off the library tower for their investigation and she’s afraid it won’t be opened in time for the Bye Bye Birdie event.”

  Cindy moved closer to her usual spot by the fence and I followed. Once we were out of earshot from the other dog owners, she spoke. “I figured it had to be something but I seriously doubted your mother was concerned about Billie Churl’s death. Not like the other times.”

  “I know. It was understandable when my mom’s name was found on a piece of paper in a murder victim’s hand, and that other time when her friend from the Rhythm Tappers was accused of committing murder. I can even rationalize her furor to find the killer at the Stardust Theater because the cast members were convinced the victim’s ghost was haunting the place. But this? This is purely self-serving.”

  Cindy tilted her head slightly and looked directly at me. “What do you mean?”

  “She’s going to MC the event, along with Myrna and Paul from their radio show.”

  “The mystery fishing hour? I love that show. It’s a hoot. Especially the time Paul wouldn’t stop talking about the difference between filleting a flounder and filleting a halibut while your mother and Myrna went on a long spiel about fish-themed cozies.”

  “Don’t remind me. Anyway, Sonoran Living plans to cover the event since the balloon launch from the tower is such a spectacle, and if the tower is off-limits, then―”

  “I get the idea. No Sonoran Living and your mother’s chances of appearing on their show will literally evaporate.”

  “Yep. That’s about it. So, do you have any idea who Billie’s assailant could have been? Have you heard any rumoring around the park?”

  Terrific. I’ve now resorted to gathering information via rumormongering.

  “Not rumors, exactly, but something interesting. Face it, Billie worked at the deli because she needed the money. For whatever reason, she must have retired early to relocate out here. She drove a 1996 Oldsmobile that looked as if it had seen better days. Then, about a month ago, she was behind the wheel of a 2022 Hyundai Sonata. Makes you wonder, huh?”

  “Maybe she saved up for the car.”

  “I’d believe that if it was only the car. But I was at Spencers checking out washing machines two weeks ago and guess what? There she was, completing the purchase of a fifty-five-inch Samsung TV. If that’s not fishy, I don’t know what is.”

  “Gambling maybe?”

  “Not that I know of. Lots of us go casino cruising and she hasn’t been spotted in a single one. No. If you ask me, she was involved in something else. It would make sense if she turned seventy-two and cashed in an IRA, but Billie was in her fifties. A regular Boomer.”

  “I see what you mean. Hmm, I don’t suppose there’s anyone else who would know more about her?”

  “Have you spoken with Adelaide Sasher at the library? She’s the book recommendation lady. Knows everything from romance to thrillers. She’s got a special table in there on Tuesday afternoons from two to five and Saturdays from ten to one. If anyone can tell you anything about Billie, it would be Adelaide. I’d try her before you waste your time with hearsay.”

  “Thanks, Cindy. I really appreciate it.” Before I could say another word, someone from across the park shouted, “Poop alert! Small brownish dog. Poop alert!” Since Streetman was the only brown dog in the park, I pulled the blue plastic bag my mother had given me and raced to the far end of the park.

  “They do that, you know,” Cindy said. “No matter where their owners stand, the dogs do their business the farthest point away. Anyhow, it was nice talking with you, Phee. Keep me posted.”

  “You got it. Tuesdays and Saturdays, huh? Guess I’d better add Adelaide to my to-do list.”

  As soon as I deposited Streetman’s gift in the receptacle, I reattached his leash to the collar and scurried him out of the dog park. No sense tempting fate. We were back at my mother’s house in less than ten minutes and I still had a good forty-five minutes or so before I had to be at the office.

  “I’ve got to make it quick, Mom,” I said. “No guarantee about the traffic.”

  “Did you find out anything?”

  “Yeah. We’d be better off hunting for the one person who didn’t have anything against Billie Churl.”

  “What was Cindy able to tell you? Was Billie blackmailing anyone? Was it an affair gone bad? What? What?”

  “She didn’t know, but she did tell me to have a chat with someone named Adelaide Sasher at the library.”

  “You asked Cindy for a book recommendation?”

  “No. She seemed to think Adelaide knew something about Billie.”

  “Only one way to find out. You will find out, won’t you?”

  I looked at the dog, who had now made himself comfortable on the couch. “As long as I don’t have to take Streetman, I’ll pay Adelaide a visit next week.”

  “Don’t wait too long. Herb has to order the balloons.”

  “And I have to get to work. Have a good day, Mom!”

  Chapter 6

  Fortunately, my mother wasn’t familiar with Adelaide’s schedule at the library or she would have insisted I rework my every-other-Saturday-morning at the office in order to accost the poor book-recommendation woman first thing tomorrow. Still, it wasn’t out of the question. I figured there’d be plenty of time for a chitchat with her if I left Glendale at noon and drove straight to Sun City West.

  When I got to the office, Augusta was in a flurry shuffling papers around on her desk. “Mr. Williams just called from Wickenburg. I’ve got to reschedule all of his and Mr. Gregory’s appointments today. That horse case mushroomed overnight.”

  No sooner did she say “mushroomed” than a text message from Marshall came in on my cell phone.

  Heading to Phoenix to meet w/ field rep from gov’t. Late night. Sorry, hon. Augusta has details.

  I starred at the small screen, then looked at Augusta. “That was Marshall. He said you’d know what’s going on.”

  “I’m not so sure I know what’s going on, but I do know that three more geldings were taken from a ranch near Congress. That’s a few miles up from Wickenburg.”

  “Yeah, I’ve seen it on the map.”

  “Mr. Williams got on the horn with the field agent at the Department of Agriculture and he and Mr. Gregory are on their way downtown to meet with the man. Some bureaucrat by the name of Martin Winston-Featherly. If that’s not a moniker for a pencil pusher, I don’t know what is.”

  “Wow. This doesn’t sound like ordinary equine property theft. Did Nate say if they were thoroughbreds?”

  “Trail horses. Like the others. And whoever stole them didn’t have breeding in mind unless they were a total jerk. Then again, I’ve seen a lot of that back on the dairy farm in Wisconsin.”

  “Uh-huh. Any luck with video cameras in that barn?”

  Augusta shook her head. “They had them, all right. Had being the pivotal word. They were shot up according to the ranch owner who discovered the missing horses around four in the morning. He reached out to Perry Gaynes since he knew Perry and knew about the theft of his horses. In fact, when the rancher from Congress first found out, he made sure his cameras were working and running a live feed. Then, boom. Sometime last night, someone used a BB gun on them. That was all Mr. Williams said.”

  “That was certainly enough. How’d Nate manage to reach someone in the field office so early in the morning. Did he say?”

  “Yeah. Martin Winston-Featherly gave Perry his cell number when Perry first contacted the Department of Agriculture.”

  “Lucky for Nate and Marshall.”

  Augusta chucked. “I’m not so sure about that. Got a feeling this Martin character isn’t going to be much help.”

  “You’re probably right, but now that the first horse theft escalated, the department may be willing to offer up more resources.”

  “I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you. And I told Mr. Williams not to hold his either. That’s why he asked me to phone Rolo Barnes. No time to wait. Although Mr. Williams did say to call after nine thirty. Something about Rolo needing digestive time for his new plant-based diet.”

  “I’m going to need a cup of coffee before we continue this conversation.” I walked to the Keurig, put in a McCafé and moseyed back to Augusta’s desk. Rolo Barnes was the cyber-sleuth our office used when we needed information that was unobtainable anywhere else. Frankly, cyber-sleuth didn’t even come close to describing Rolo. He used to work for the Mankato Police Department in their IT department before turning fifty and deciding to branch out on his own.

  Rolo was a master hacker and an absolute genius when it came to algorithms. Codes and encryptions didn’t stand a chance against him. The guy could hack into anyone’s bank accounts from Cincinnati to the Cayman Islands and they’d never know. Same deal with tracking down info from the dark web. That’s why he was on speed dial, even if it meant we had to pay him in kitchen gadgetry. Yep, kitchen gadgetry. Mainly because his needs changed with every new diet he tried.

  I had to admit, as looney as he was, Rolo exuded a certain charm and was never at a loss when it came to his social life. I always thought he resembled a black Jerry Garcia sans the guitar. And the entourage.

  “What’s Nate having Rolo do?” I asked. “It’s not as if there are bank routing numbers that need to be uncovered.”

  “Actually, there ma
y be. Nate and Marshall are pretty convinced that the number of stolen horses equates to a boatload of money somewhere. They need Rolo to look for transactions emanating from other dude ranches or entertainment venues where trained trail horses would be used.”

  “That makes sense. So, what’s the agricultural department doing?”

  “According to your boss, not much. Looks like Rolo may be the one to track down horse trailer rentals in Maricopa and its surrounding counties as well. Could be a rogue operation.”

  “You may be right. Hmm, it’s uncanny you mentioned Rolo. I know this has nothing to do with Williams Investigations but I wanted to give Rolo a call myself to see if he would be willing to look into Billie Churl’s bank accounts for me and find out where her windfall came from.”

  “What windfall are you talking about? Honestly, Phee, sometimes it’s like walking into a movie theater halfway through. Start at the beginning.”

  “Sorry. My mind is skipping all over the place. I was at the dog park this morning to placate my mother by having a conversation with Sun City West’s gossip source.”

  “Cindy Dolton, right? I didn’t think that much would change.”

  “Yeah. Cindy. Anyway, she told me Billie rid herself of the twenty-five-year-old Oldsmobile she drove and was behind the wheel of a new Hyundai. And that’s not all. She was seen buying a large flat-screen TV. Naturally, I’m curious where all that money came from. Face it, if she had such a large stash, she wouldn’t be working behind the counter of a supermarket delicatessen.”

  Augusta shuffled a few more papers around on her desk and nodded. “If you plan to call Rolo, take a number and get in line.”

  “I’m not calling him. I said I wanted to give him a call but not now. Not under these circumstances. He’s about to be up to his neck hacking into all sorts of unsavory places in order to help Nate and Marshall find those stolen horses. Whether my mother likes it or not, Billie Churl’s death will have to take a backseat.”

  “Some backseat. I know you and you’re not about to let it rest. But why all the bother? It’s not as if someone’s life is resting on the line.”

  “No, but my nerves are. That bell tower is now off-limits to anyone other than the sheriff’s office. And who knows how long it will stay cordoned off. That means the gala Bye Bye Birdie balloon drop may fizzle completely along with my mother’s chances to be on Sonoran Living. Don’t ask.”

  Augusta leaned her neck back, giving the appearance of three or four chins. “I knew it had to be something like that. But goodness. That event isn’t for a few weeks. Surely the forensic team will have gathered all their evidence by then. Heck, back home, the rinky-dink sheriff’s office in my county would’ve had the job done in two days. Three tops.”

  I looked around even though I knew we were the only ones in the office. “I don’t think it’s a matter of finding and securing evidence.”

  “Then what?”

  “Okay, fine. I have this unsettling feeling that the sheriff’s office may have reached a totally different conclusion. What if Billie’s assailant wasn’t someone she knew? What if it was a deranged killer who had his or her sights on assaulting someone at the top of the tower? That might explain why they’re keeping the tower door locked.”

  “Either that, or, like I said, they’re really poky when it comes to gathering evidence.”

  “I hope you’re right. Billie Churl wasn’t the only person who used that stairwell for exercise. Yeesh. Think of the timing. It could have been Louise Munson at the base of the stairs and not the deli-witch.”

  “Whatever you do, keep those thoughts to yourself and don’t breathe a word to your mother.”

  “I’m not crazy. But that’s why Rolo Barnes sprang to mind. If he could pinpoint how Billie’s cash flow suddenly changed, then maybe it would point to premeditated murder and not some lunatic in the tower. Anyway, I’m certainly not about to call him. Not with that major horse theft going on. Nate and Marshall need his resources more than I do at this point. Besides, I have another lead.”

  “Another lead? Who are you? Stephanie Plum?”

  “I might as well be. I’m doing as much running around as she does. Anyway, Cindy told me about a lady in the library who gives book recommendations to patrons. She gets to know readers’ tastes and preferences so she can direct them to books they might enjoy.”

  “Again, you’ve lost me.”

  I sighed. “This lady, Adelaide Sasher, may know more about Billie than anyone else. After work tomorrow I’ll stop by the library and see what she’s willing to share with me. Nate always said the best results are gleaned through old-fashioned detective work.”

  The taut lines around Augusta’s lips broadened into a smile. “And here I thought you were satisfied with bookkeeping and accounting.”

  “I’m also satisfied when I’m not being nagged to death by my mother.”

  “Not to be a glutton for punishment, but you said ‘another lead.’ What other leads do you have?”

  “All right, maybe it’s not a lead in the definitive sense of the word, but a lady at the dog park told me that Billie belonged to the Sun City West Boomers club and wasn’t exactly what you’d call a model club member.”

  “Boomers, huh? What do they do?”

  “Everything. Hiking, camping, water sports, kayaking, horseback riding, rock climbing, you name it. It’s one of those clubs with lots of spinoffs. And I’m keeping my fingers crossed my mother doesn’t find out. The last time she and her crew looked into a murder, they came up with this loosely thought out scheme they called Operation Agatha.”

  “I remember Operation Agatha. They infiltrated the Rhythm Tappers and that railroad club to see if they could track down the killer.”

  “Yeah, and they dragged me into it. Last thing I need is to find myself kayaking, or worse yet, rock climbing, in order to eke out some information.”

  “I hate to say it, but you’ll find yourself doing those very things, or worse, if your so-called lead with Adelaide in the library doesn’t pan out.”

  “Bite your tongue.”

  Chapter 7

  If I thought Marshall looked like hell the night before when he came home from Wickenburg, he looked worse when he came through the door at a little past eight. He had called me around four to let me know he and Nate met with Martin earlier in the day and returned to the Wickenburg area to track down more clues. He also told me not to wait on dinner, but that’s exactly what I did.

  “I made us chicken salad and bought those flakey croissants you like from the Wildflower Bread Company,” I said. “You must be famished. I know I am.”

  “You mean you haven’t eaten?”

  I threw my arms around his neck and gave him a few snuggling kisses at the nape. “I really didn’t get my appetite until you walked in the door. Get comfortable and we can share horror stories. But only after the first few mouthfuls. Like I said, I’m starving.”

  It was only after we had devoured enough forkfuls of food that we began to talk. Marshall gritted his teeth and had a sheepish look on his face. “Good thing Augusta got Rolo up to snuff because we’re going to need him. It hasn’t even been six hours but the guy already uncovered some shady entertainment venues that were buying horses at bargain basement prices.”

  “What about the field rep from the Department of Agriculture?”

  “About as useful as a toad on an iceberg.”

  “Yeesh.”

  “Well, maybe not quite that bad. He did give Nate and me the information his office garnered, but with scant resources that’s about all we expect. Which brings me to the next topic of conversation. Sorry, hon, but Nate and I both agree these cases are only the starting point for something more sinister. And before it reaches that point, we need to take the leads we have and get on the road.”

  I tore off a piece of my croissant, and before I knew it, I had shredded it on my plate. “On the road where? How long?”

  “Southeast of Tucson. We plan to get an early start in the morning and go from there. It shouldn’t be more than a few days, but as new information emerges, that may change. These things always have tentacles.”

  “I know I’m sounding like a nervous Nellie but don’t do anything reckless.”