Bright New Murder: A Plain Jane Mystery Page 7

  “Uh…” Jane looked over her shoulder. Maybe she could get Beth to change her mind.

  “Get. In.” Del had something that might have been a Taser strapped to his Batman-like security-guy utility belt.

  Beth may have sent her boyfriend to calm Jane’s nerves, but it hadn’t worked.

  Del let the elevator doors shut. “Stairs it is, then.” He stuck his hands in his pockets and ambled off down the hall.

  Jane hurried to keep up. Now that he was less likely to kill her…or whatever it was she was scared of, she wanted to ask him a few questions.

  “So the night of the murder…that’s a lot of TV’s to keep an eye on.”

  “Sure, but I keep a closer eye on the screens where something is supposed to be happening.”

  “So if the person had snuck in past another camera, would you have seen them?”

  “Probably. When the cleaners come through rooms that are supposed to be empty, I always notice. Peripheral vision is a good thing in a room like that.”

  “So nothing happened in a room it wasn’t supposed to happen in.”

  “I wouldn’t have said that for sure the night of.” Del slowed down so Jane could keep up with him. “But we’ve watched all of the film since then. Every hour on every camera. Nobody came in by themselves through a back door. Everyone seemed to come in like they were supposed to. Then again, there were a few big events, so I couldn’t say that someone didn’t sneak in with a crowd that didn’t know them, you know? It was a big night.”

  “Beth said that the dark—shadowy, or shady—figure was the only thing that stood out in the video. Would you agree?”

  “I’m not sure. It seemed to me that a few of the things happening in the video could have been there to distract from the stabbing. For example, early on there was a young guy shilling sample drinks in a really cheesy circus kind of voice. It seemed over the top, and while he was doing it everyone was looking forward instead of around the room at each other.”

  Jake. Jane rolled her eyes. “What else did you notice?”

  “The protesters came sort of in the middle of the party. They mostly stayed in the hall. But some did squeeze in past the folks blocking their entry.”

  “They did?” Jane stopped. This was the first she had heard about protesters sneaking in. Had one of the Helpers had a grudge against Michelle? She thought back to the anxious protester…Valerie? Valeria? What if she had been with the killer? Or had been the killer?

  “Yeah, about four of them did.”

  “Did any of them match the description of the shady figure you saw?”

  “Nope.” They arrived at a broad, well-lit staircase in the middle of the building. Del loped down the steps two at a time.

  “So, just in your opinion, do you think the shady figure was more likely to have done it, or the protesters who snuck into the party?”

  “Couldn’t say.” He stopped at the bottom of the stairs and waited for her.

  “Of course not. So, on the video, what did the protesters who snuck into the party do?”

  “They mingled. And they took sample cups from people and threw them away.”

  “What?” Jane paused.

  “I watched them do it at least six times. They walked up to a group, paused like they were chatting, held out their hands and took cups, and then wandered off and threw them away.”

  “That’s…I don’t know…a little passive-aggressive, yes?”

  “That’s how I saw it.”

  They walked towards the exit, Jane trying to suss what she had heard, when Del grabbed her arm and pulled her into a bathroom. “Shhh.”

  Jane stiffened. Her heart thundered against her chest and a cold sweat broke out on her forehead. But Del didn’t do anything. He just stood there, one finger to his lips. His eyes were scared.

  The bathroom door pushed open slowly. An older woman, about five feet tall, with silver hair in a bun, stepped through. “Del?”

  Del worked his jaw back and forth.

  The small woman looked him up and down. She had on a navy-blue suit with brass buttons and a pair of patent leather pumps. Her name tag said “Lafayette.”

  “Hey,” Del said.

  “What are you doing in uniform? You were put on administrative leave.” Her frown was serious. The V between her eyes was deep enough to get lost in.

  “Yes, ma’am.” He chewed his bottom lip and glanced at Jane.

  Lafayette looked at Jane as well. “You can move along now.”

  “Yes, of course.” Jane made each step count as she left, hoping to hear what Del had to say, but the two security personnel were silent until the door swung shut again. She paused, ear to the door. Eavesdropping on this unexpected turn was worth the risk.

  “Hand me the baton, Taser, and pepper spray.” Lafayette’s voice was low and hard to hear through the door. Del was silent.

  The floor in the bathroom squeaked, so Jane bolted. She was much nearer the exit door when Del and his boss came out. She turned to watch them head back up the stairs.

  She had learned two important things from the visit at least, the most important being that you could wander the halls of the massive convention center without getting caught for only so long. And the second thing was that the security guard in charge of monitoring the cameras the night of the murder both fit the description of the killer (to some small extent) and was put on administrative leave.

  Jane would be calling Beth tonight for sure.

  ***

  “I’m starving.” Gemma held her phone out like a notepad. “What do you think…burgers, smoothies, or both?”

  “Jake is not your personal food delivery boy.” Jane sat in front of a list of her suspects. Del had suddenly jumped to the front of the list. She tried calling Beth but had to leave a message. She needed to know so much about this Del character. Starting with his last name. But where he went to school, who his parents were, and how hard up for money he was were high on the list. A hungry man with few scruples who happened to know a person with a grudge…she penciled stars around his name. Of course, those were just guesses. He could be a really good guy with enough to get by on, and he might not have any connection to Michelle at all.

  “Jake’s a…friend.” She grinned and fell backwards onto the sofa. “Right? A goo-o-od friend.” She put her phone to her heart. “I don’t think you realize how close he and I have gotten this year.”

  “Yeah, I guess I don’t.” She prayed that if Gemma asked for food, he’d say no. He owed it to her—er, to Gemma—to help her see the light. “Okay, so at the event, did you notice the protesters who came inside the party?”

  “Yeah, of course I did.”

  “Did they seem to be acting weird to you?”

  “A little aggressive, but not weird. I mean, not weird if by weird you mean doing things that surprised me.”

  “How would you describe their activities?”

  “They spread out, talked to people, took their cups and recycled them. They seemed on a friendly mission to change minds, if you know what I mean.”

  “Did you tell them about the almond-milk alternative smoothies?”

  “No. I admit, I was totally overwhelmed by it all. I really didn’t know what to do or say to anyone by that time. Didn’t you notice any of this?”

  “Uhh…” Jane sighed. “I wasn’t there. I was still really overwhelmed from the breakup, you know?”

  “Poor thing! I can see why you wouldn’t want me and Jake hanging around all the time. You’re still so tender! I tell you what. I will make sure that Jakey and I take our fun elsewhere.” She dialed her phone. “But can I bring something home for you?”

  Jane shook her head. Poor, deluded Gemma.

  It was just after six, so Jane hid in her bedroom and phoned Trillium Montessori. There was always a chance someone in administration was still around, and anything was better than listening in on Gemma’s call.

  They answered on the second ring. “Trillium Montessori, this is Carrie s
peaking.”

  “Hi, Carrie. I’m Jane Adler.” She took a deep breath. “I’m a private detective, and I’m working for the folks who threw the Helping Hands Early Education Center fundraiser where Michelle Smith was killed. Do you have a moment to answer some questions?”

  “A detective?” Carrie’s voice registered disbelief.

  “Yes.” Jane attempted to get a deeper, more mature timber out of her voice. “I just have a few questions for you, if you don’t mind.”

  “I guess.”

  Jane heard papers rustling in the background. “First, if you don’t mind, what’s your position at the school?”

  “I’m April’s assistant.”

  “And…who is April?”

  “Oh, sorry. April Harms bought the school from Michelle. She was the senior teacher here before that. Has been with the school since its third year.”

  “That’s great, thank you. And about the sale…had it gone smoothly?”

  “Yup. It was a breeze. Michelle was up to finalize some smaller things having to do with the rights to some of the curriculum we use, that she created. Also she decided not to sell the building, so she and April were going to sign a long-term lease agreement.”

  “Were both of them on board with that?”

  “Yeah. It wasn’t any big deal. April couldn’t get together enough money to buy the school and the building. The lease was going to be a lease-to-buy, though. Provide Michelle with income for retirement and then a lump sum later.”

  “You seem to know a lot about this.” Jane was taking notes as she went, but it was going fast. She needed to stall Carrie so she could get it all down.

  “I sit in on the meetings and take dictation. Stuff like that. But none of it was particularly secret.”

  “Carrie, would you mind if I came down and saw the school?”

  “Why not? We’re all closed up right now, but you could come tomorrow morning. Probably best if you come by before nine when our classes start though.”

  “Thank you so much. That would be perfect.” Jane got the address and let Carrie go. If Carrie could be trusted, then April Harms wasn’t likely to be the murderer, but it wouldn’t hurt to see her in person. Especially since April had known Michelle for so long. She’d probably know more dirt about Michelle than anyone else.

  Since there was every chance that Gemma was in the other room pouting—or worse, crying—about Jake not wanting to get together, Jane stayed in her room for the rest of the night.

  Tomorrow she had two big houses to clean and one school to visit. Not too bad for a housecleaning detective.

  11

  Jane’s phone dinged as she pulled into the Trillium Montessori parking lot. A new email—from PayPal? Jane opened it. Three hundred and fifty dollars from Jake for “expenses” paid through her Good Clean Houses business account. She took a deep breath. What was this new scheme of his? She checked her clock—only eight. She had time to call him before she went inside.

  “Jake, what is this?”

  “What is what? Do you know how early it is?” Jake yawned.

  “Don’t pretend you aren’t up.”

  “I’m not up.”

  “You’ve been using your computer.”

  “You are a very good spy.”

  Jane rolled her eyes. “What expenses are you paying me for?”

  “The expenses incurred for solving the murder that occurred at my first-ever fundraiser for educating homeless preschoolers.”

  “You’re paying me for this?”

  Jake yawned again. “I know. Crazy, right?”

  “Thank you?” Jane wasn’t sure what to think. If she wanted to pursue detection, she needed paying clients. But taking money from Jake just felt wrong. On the other hand, he would be the one most likely to hire her in this situation.

  “You’re welcome. And it’s cheaper than bringing you and that cousin of yours lunch and dinner six days a week.” Jake cleared his throat. “Just solve it, okay?”

  “Jake…”

  “I did not go out with Gemma last night. I called a guy and hung out doing guy things. Are you happy?”

  Jane couldn’t hide her laugh. “Yes, I’m happy. The sooner Gemma realizes you’re just not that into her, the better for her.”

  “Are you done lecturing me? I’d like to go back to sleep.”

  “Yes.” Lecturing? Jane didn’t like the sound of that. She was his buddy, not his mom. “Sorry. And thanks for the expenses. I’ll try and use it wisely.”

  “Just remember, whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, working for God and not people, okay? Detecting, schooling, missioning, whatever. Just do your best and make God proud.”

  Jane grinned. Sometimes Jake surprised her. “Yes. I will.”

  She let him go and contemplated her expense fund. A little money could smooth the path to information. Did people want cash to talk, or coffee? She’d have to read each person as they came, and right now it was time to read Carrie, assistant to April Harms.

  The reception desk was in the center of a small, colorful foyer fully decked out for every major winter holiday. “Carrie?” Jane offered her hand to the woman behind the desk.

  “Yes, are you Jane?” She shook Jane’s hand.

  “Yes, thanks so much for letting me stop by.”

  “Of course.” Carrie’s thick brown hair hung in a braid that landed at the hem of her wooly sweater. With her skinny figure, makeup-free face, and outfit made from entirely natural fibers, Jane could see Carrie fitting in with Rose of Sharon’s Helpers. Maybe it did make sense that Michelle had once been a protester. “What can I show you?” Carrie waved her hand, indicating the hall that led to the classrooms.

  “We can just chat, if that’s okay. I’m trying to learn a little more about Michelle. I know she has one son, married, living in Nevada. Does she have any other family in town?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe she does, but I never talked to her about her family.”

  “What made her decide to sell the school and retire?”

  “Her grandkids.” Carrie sat down in her rolling office chair. She motioned to a bright green armchair.

  Jane took a seat. “Did she seem excited for the change?”

  “Yes and no. She was really excited to see her grandkids more and to live someplace warm and dry, but every now and then I’d catch her in a bit of a melancholy mood. But it makes sense, you know? She built this school from nothing.” Carrie sighed. “Change is hard, even when it’s something you’re looking forward to.”

  “That’s true.” Jane relaxed back into her seat. “How did the parents take the change?”

  “Everyone loves April, so that wasn’t a problem at all.”

  “Everyone?”

  “Oh yes, everyone. The PTO, the alumni. She’s just a lot of fun, and she’s kind of like an extension of Michelle. I don’t think it would have worked if Michelle had sold to a stranger.”

  “Did anyone have a particularly hard time saying goodbye to Michelle?” Jane really wanted to know if anyone was especially happy to see her go, but wanted to work her way up to that question.

  “Oh yes! A few of our families have been here for several years. We’re just a preschool and kindergarten, but if you are a big family, you could end up here for a decade. And one family, the Chadwicks, they are on their second generation! It’s hard to believe it’s been long enough, but…they had a lot of kids, and their youngest three went here. Now their oldest kids have kids in the school, if that makes sense. Lots of big families here.”

  “What’s tuition these days?”

  “It’s eight to twelve thousand a year, depending on what age, but there are family discounts.”

  Jane swallowed. That was more than her tuition at Presbyterian Preparatory High School had been. “Does she ever run into trouble with families that can’t pay?”

  Carrie rolled her eyes. “Yes. It drives me batty, too. Michelle was wonderful about scholarships, grants, and family discounts. There was no ne
ed for anyone to get into financial difficulty. I mean, of course, if you don’t have the money, you shouldn’t say you do and enroll in the first place, but if you are a Trillium family and run into hard times…Michelle—and now April—has always been willing to find a way to work with you.”

  “Can you think of anyone who might have a grudge against Michelle—for anything at all? Tuition costs? Something that happened at the school? Or even something in her personal life?”

  Carrie drew her eyebrows together. “I really didn’t want to have to mention this, but I’d probably better. If the police come in to talk, I’ll have to tell them anyway.”

  Jane leaned forward, elbows on her knees.

  “The Miters…” She shook her head. “Oh, I hate to even say this. The Miters actually owe us one hundred thousand dollars, and Michelle has been fighting the situation in court for the last three years.”

  A thrill went through Jane. “That’s a whole lot of money. How does a family end up owing their preschool that much money?”

  “They were another big family. They had four kids in the school for four years…”

  “But they would have had to have all of the kids there the whole time without paying…they didn’t do that, did they?”

  “No…they had sent six kids through the school altogether. And for each one of them, there would come a time where their checks stopped clearing. They would rack up a debt with us, tuition, fees, and then the bounced-check fees.” Carrie rubbed her eyes in exasperation. “But when fall enrollment came around, they’d enroll whoever was old enough at the time. They’d pay a couple of months’ tuition up front plus some of their back fees. Michelle was always willing to work with them. But then, at the end, when they had the four kids here at once, they just stopped paying.”

  “But still, the fees could hardly have reached one hundred thousand, could they?”

  “Michelle had to take them to court for the money, once it got over thirty thousand. She just couldn’t pay her bills with that much outstanding. The court decided for us, and included legal fees. Michelle didn’t want them to have to pay that much, she really didn’t.”