Buried Under Clutter (Tina Tales Mysteries Book 2) Page 6

  Uncle Bob turned to Tina and Jenny when he saw them approaching. “You need help with those windows? I decided you might and started over. Ran into Ryan here. Don’t know if you’ve all met?”

  “We haven’t.” Ryan held out his hand to Jenny. “Ryan Fenton.”

  “Jenny Tinsdale. Nice to meet you.”

  They shook, and he turned to Tina.

  “Tina Shaw.”

  “Oh, Bob’s your uncle.”

  “Yes, and because he is, I’m usually good to go.”

  Ryan unclasped his hand from hers, looking puzzled.

  Embarrassed, Tina said, “There’s a saying, Bob’s your uncle. It means you’re all set, or good to go. You know.”

  “Oh, I get it now.”

  “It’s my fault,” Uncle Bob said. “I’ve taught Tina a lot of old expressions and clichés, I’m afraid. That’s one of our favorites, right, kumquat?”

  Tina smiled. “It sure is. Anyway, I’m glad to meet you at last.”

  Ryan broke an awkward silence by asking, “You’re working in the house?”

  “Yes,” Tina said. “You know what happened here?

  Ryan nodded.

  “Jenny is Mrs. Blackwell’s niece, and Uncle Bob and I have been helping her go through the clutter.”

  “That’s very kind of you.” Ryan cocked his head slightly, seeming to assess her more closely.

  “Not at all. I’m a professional organizer, and Jenny hired me.”

  Jenny nodded. “My aunt was a hoarder. Maybe you’ve heard.”

  “No, I hadn’t.” Ryan looked shocked. “How bad is it?”

  “Pretty bad,” Jenny acknowledged.

  “A fire hazard?” Ryan looked as if he wanted to dash inside to find out for himself.

  “Ryan’s a firefighter,” Uncle Bob said.

  That explained why he was in such good shape, and his concern. Tina had never thought about the place going up in flames. She felt a little light-headed. She decided to put it down to hunger, but she knew it was from fear.

  “We’ll get it all cleared out,” Jenny said. “Eventually.”

  Ryan looked unconvinced. “That’s a big house. Can I take a look?”

  Jenny backed up a step, stumbled. “I’d rather you didn’t.”

  Tina caught Jenny’s arm to steady her.

  Ryan’s eyes widened. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think how that would sound. Nosy. I’m just concerned about it being a fire hazard. Not only that, you could trip over something.”

  Jenny held her hands up, palms out. “We’re very careful. No open flames. There are paths through the stuff, nothing to trip over.”

  “Okay.” Ryan didn’t look happy. “It was nice meeting you.” His gaze lingered on Tina, then he turned and strode down the sidewalk as if he owned it and walked across the street to his own house. Which, Tina noticed, looked in great shape. Fresh paint, some shrubs in front, lawn mowed and edged before it got too cold. She consciously dismissed any more thoughts about Mr. Ryan Fenton and began to wonder why Jenny became so upset about Ryan’s interest in Mrs. Blackwell’s house. Embarrassed? Hiding something? But if she was hiding something, why would she give Tina free reign to go through papers and rooms by herself?

  “Hmm,” Uncle Bob interrupted her musing. “A bit of a farrago, no? First he’s all official like, then he’s perturbed.”

  “Farrago?” Jenny smiled. “What’s that?”

  “A confused mixture.” Uncle Bob patted Jenny on the shoulder.

  Jenny’s smile widened. “I think Tina caused that.”

  “Me? What did I do?”

  “You were just Tina.” Now Uncle Bob patted her on the shoulder. “A vixen. A siren. Men can’t resist you.”

  “Right. Excuse me while I change out of these stunning work clothes into something slinky. Then I’ll go visit Ryan and set him on fire. Not his house.”

  Everyone laughed. “Let’s get those windows closed. I even remembered to bring my mask.” Uncle Bob led the way to the front porch. Then he turned. “I assume you’re done for the day.”

  “Yes,” Jenny said. “We certainly are.”

  “Okay then. Let’s start at the back.” He put Princess’s leash down. “Sit. Stay.” She did.

  They put on their masks and snaked their way along the path to the kitchen. “You closed and locked the door. That was good.”

  “We let Mrs. Morris out. She was rummaging around in the music room.” Tina grinned.

  “Rummaging?”

  “She knocked over a French horn case, then climbed on top to clean herself. Obviously she planned the whole thing.”

  Uncle Bob looked dubious. “Okay, if you say so. Hope she didn’t damage anything in there.”

  “I didn’t notice anything,” Jenny said.

  Tina figured she wanted to get home. “Let’s just get this over with.” She’d seemed so determined earlier. Tina wondered what had set her off.

  Uncle Bob managed to secure all the windows. Back outside, Jenny was locking the front door when her cell rang. After she said hello and listened a few moments, she turned so pale Uncle Bob took her arm and led her over to a chair.

  “I’ll be there as fast as I can.” Jenny snapped the phone shut and closed her eyes. “That was my mother. Someone broke into the house and tried to attack her. She fended them off, and they escaped. The police are there now. I’ve got to run.” She stood up on wobbly legs and bolted to her car.

  Tina stared into Uncle Bob’s shocked face. So, he’d heard what Jenny said. Could the attack be related to Olivia Blackwell’s murder? Probably, Tina decided. Not good. Not good at all.

  CHAPTER 15

  They walked back to the house, both lost in thought. Tina went looking for her mother, but she couldn’t find her.

  When she came into the kitchen, she saw Uncle Bob in the pantry, looking around as if lost. Princess sat staring at him hopefully, her shaggy golden tail moving steadily back and forth.

  “Mom’s not here,” Tina told him after she got his attention so he could read her lips. “Let’s order a pizza. She didn’t leave a note. I wonder where she went.”

  Uncle Bob came out of the pantry and sat down in a kitchen chair. “I have no idea. She’s been acting strange the last few days.”

  Tina blinked. “She has? I haven’t noticed.”

  “Absent-minded. Not like her at all. She doesn’t remember what I told her from one minute to the next. And jumpy, too.”

  Tina sat down across from her uncle so he could more easily read her lips. “I’ve never seen her jumpy before. I wonder what’s wrong.”

  “I don’t know, but I don’t like it. It started right after Olivia was murdered.”

  “You think there’s a connection?”

  “I don’t see how there could be. Nothing to do with us except she was a neighbor.”

  “Well, then, it must be something else bothering her. She really likes to keep secrets, doesn’t she?”

  “Now, don’t be getting yourself into a tizzy about that again.”

  Tina frowned. “It must be a New England thing. When I was in Virginia, it seemed as if everyone had a great time telling secrets. About others and about themselves.”

  “Probably a combination of New England and just your mother’s personality. She also, you’ll notice, doesn’t want any help solving any problems. She’s a do-it-yourself kind of a gal.”

  “Was she always that way?”

  “Sure was. I can still see her determined little face when she was tiny. Sometimes my sister had a heck of a time getting her to do something she didn’t want to do. You were a much easier child.”

  “Well, determination can be a good thing.”

  “Sure it can. Right now, I’ve determined that a pizza would hit the spot.” Princess’s tail thumped when he said pizza.

  Tina realized he couldn’t hear it. “When you say the word ‘pizza,’ Princess wags her tail.”

  “Really?” Uncle Bob looked down at the retriever and patted her he
ad. “I haven’t noticed her doing that when anyone mentions another kind of food.”

  “I’ve never seen her do it for broccoli.” Tina grinned. “Let’s see. Steak?”

  The tail thumped even louder than it did for pizza. “Look at that!” Uncle Bob seemed both surprised and delighted. “Hot dog.”

  Again, the tail thumped loudly. Then Princess stood up.

  “Oh, no,” Tina said. “We’re going to get her all excited.”

  “Cheese,” Uncle Bob said. Princess whined softly as the tail wagged some more.

  “You made her whine.”

  “Really?” He patted her again. “Don’t get all het up girl. We’ll give you some pizza.”

  Now the tail wagged furiously, and the whining got louder. Tina couldn’t help laughing. “I’d better order that food before she goes nuts.”

  They had finished their pizza, feeding bits to Princess, and put everything away before Laura came in, seeming to bring the chilly air with her. Laura shivered. “It’s turning colder out there. We’ll have snow before you know it.”

  “Where have you been?” Tina asked. She noticed her mother hadn’t brought in any packages, so she hadn’t been shopping.

  Laura placed her purse on the floor under the little desk area and sat down. “Just out and about.”

  “Out and about where?” Tina couldn’t help sounding impatient.

  “I don’t want to talk about it.” Laura stood up. “Is that pizza I smell? I suppose there’s none left.” She moved restlessly to the refrigerator.

  “No,” Tina said. “We ate it all. Princess helped, though.”

  Laura turned to look at the dog and smiled. “She would. If she’ll eat Uncle Bob’s and my cooking, she probably thought she was in gourmet heaven.”

  Tina bit her tongue. There was a lot she could say about her mother’s and uncle’s cooking, but she’d kept quiet all these years and felt it prudent to maintain that silence.

  Laura went back to rummaging in the fridge. “Cheese and crackers and a stiff drink should do me for now.” She faced Uncle Bob. “Will you make us some chocolate martinis?”

  “It must have been a rough afternoon.” Uncle Bob got up to fix the drinks. “Tell us about it when I sit down again so I can catch every word.”

  Laura sighed and gathered up crackers and cheese, plate and knife. Her movements were jerky, Tina noticed as she gnawed a knuckle. When she realized what she was doing, she made herself stop.

  After Laura and Uncle Bob were settled again, Tina prodded her mother. “Tell us.”

  Placing a piece of cheddar on a round cracker, Laura hesitated before putting it in her mouth. “I went up to Quincy.”

  “What on earth for?” Tina grabbed a cracker and began to nibble on it.

  “I went to see Olivia’s sister. Her name is Rebecca. We became friends back when Olivia first moved next door and was seeing our uncle, here.”

  “I’d forgotten that,” Uncle Bob said.

  “We sort of lost touch, but still exchanged Christmas cards. She stopped leaving her house so didn’t visit Newport anymore, and I rarely get up that way. The last few months, we’ve been emailing each other. She was worried about Olivia.”

  “She does email? How old is she?” Tina grabbed some cheese for another cracker. She shouldn’t be eating them after the pizza, even though she didn’t usually eat much because the food her mother and uncle made was so bad.

  “I think she’s sixty-five, thereabouts. Since she never leaves the house, Jenny persuaded her to learn to use a computer. That way Rebecca could keep in touch with old friends and maybe join some groups for agoraphobics and so on. That’s how we got back in touch.”

  “How long ago was that?” Uncle Bob fed Princess a piece of cheese. Her tail thumped the floor as she ate.

  “About six months ago.”

  “Why didn’t you tell us?” Princess got another piece of cheese.

  Laura studied Uncle Bob for a moment before answering. “You didn’t like to talk about her and Olivia, so I decided not to mention it. We just wrote emails back and forth, and I went to see her twice. Today I decided I should visit her to offer my condolences. They were close, even under their difficult situations. They spoke on the phone every day.”

  Uncle Bob sighed. “Rebecca was very difficult when Olivia and I were seeing each other.”

  “I know. Actually, she was concerned about you.”

  “Me? I thought she thought I wasn’t good enough for Olivia.”

  Tina watched and listened to her mother and uncle go back and forth. She found herself holding her breath and let it out slowly. She loved hearing about their past.

  Laura shook her head. “It was the other way around. She loved Olivia, but she knew her sister would be impossible for a man to live with. She was sure it would only lead to heartache for both of you.”

  “Why didn’t you, or she, ever tell me this?”

  “Would you have listened? You had to find out for yourself what Olivia was really like.”

  “Oh, for goodness sake. Of course I would have listened.” Uncle Bob took a swig of his martini and began to choke. Princess stood up, and Laura and Tina watched him with concern. He finally got the coughing under control and wiped his eyes with a paper napkin.

  “You okay? No, I’m sure you would not have listened. You know how stubborn you can be.”

  Uncle Bob picked up his martini glass, stood, and, Princess following, stomped up the back stairs. Tina watched him go, wide-eyed. She’d rarely seen her uncle angry before.

  Laura put her head in her hands. “That didn’t go well, did it?” She looked up at Tina. “I’m scared. I have to talk to you. I think there was something going on between Olivia and Uncle Bob. Lately, I mean. I think something went wrong between them. And now she’s dead. Murdered.”

  CHAPTER 16

  Tina felt the blood leave her face. “You mean you think Uncle Bob might have… have murdered her?”

  “I don’t know what to think! I don’t know of anyone else she was in contact with the last few years. She became more and more like Rebecca, never leaving the house. But I know she and Uncle Bob were in contact.”

  “How do you know this? Did he go inside her house?”

  “I saw them on her back stoop several times. And yes, he went inside at least once. I watched him. I can see the stoop from my bedroom window.”

  “And you’re sure it was Uncle Bob?

  Laura hesitated. “Well, yes.”

  “You sound a bit doubtful.”

  “It was always near dark or totally dark, and the angle is difficult.” She put her head in her hands again. “I assumed it was him. But you’re right. I can’t be positive.”

  Tina stood up and began to put the food away. She’d finished her martini, so washed the glass. “This has become a big mess. Messier than Olivia Blackwell’s house itself. What did her sister have to say? Anything interesting?”

  “She said Olivia didn’t talk as much as she used to when they were on the phone. She thought she was hiding something, but couldn’t imagine what.”

  “I wonder if Jenny knows. After all, Jenny actually visited her every so often. She told me they’d sit outside to chat.”

  “It’s possible, I guess.” Laura fidgeted with her necklace.

  “Do you think we need to find out because of Uncle Bob?”

  “Yes. I’m really worried about him.” Laura stopped fingering the necklace and picked up the salt shaker, turning it over and over in her hand.

  Tina placed her hand over her mother’s restless ones. “We’ll figure it out. We have experience doing that.”

  Laura smiled and squeezed Tina’s hand.

  The doorbell rang, and both of them started, then stared at each other. “Who could that be?” Laura asked as she stood up. “It’s almost ten o’clock.”

  They walked down the front hall and peered through the round window in the door. Lisbeth Dotson and John Smith stood there, looking grim.

&n
bsp; “The police,” Laura whispered. She opened the door.

  CHAPTER 17

  “May we come in?” Lisbeth Dotson met Laura’s eyes, then shifted her gaze to Tina.

  Tina shivered, not from the cold, she realized, as her mother opened the door wide enough for the officers to enter and led the way toward the living room.

  After everyone settled into chairs or the couch, John opened his notebook, and Lisbeth looked again at Laura. “We understand you went to Quincy today.”

  “Yes.” Laura sounded puzzled.

  “When did you arrive, and when did you leave?”

  “I got there around four-thirty. Left at five-thirty.”

  “You went to see Rebecca Tinsdale, is that correct?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  Tina realized she hadn’t had a chance to tell her mother about Rebecca being attacked late that afternoon. She suppressed a gasp. “Wait!” She had to stop herself from jumping out of her chair.

  Everyone looked at her. “Don’t answer any more questions, Mom. Rebecca was attacked this afternoon.” Tina turned to Lizbeth. “Don’t you need to read my mother her rights and ask her if she wants a lawyer before you question her?”

  Lisbeth looked annoyed. “We are not arresting your mother.” She paused, and Tina could imagine the unspoken word, “yet.” “We’re just gathering information.”

  “I don’t like this,” Tina insisted. “Mom, I wouldn’t answer any more questions without talking to Brandon.”

  Both Lizbeth and John were now frowning at her. Laura had become pale, and she fingered her necklace nervously. “You’re probably right. Would you call him for me?”

  Tina grabbed her phone and pressed the link for Brandon. She’d listed him when they were still dating and hadn’t changed it yet.

  “That is not necessary,” Lizbeth said sharply. “We’re just gathering information.”

  “Sorry,” Tina said, not at all sorry. “I dated a criminal lawyer long enough to know what’s best in this situation. Brandon? I know you’re surprised to hear from me. Yes, I’m fine. Can you come to the house? The police are questioning my mother. It’s a long story. Can you come?” After he said he’d be right there, she hit the end button, and turned to Laura. “He’s on his way.” She put the phone on the coffee table, tired of having it in the tight pocket of her jeans.