Murder, She Barked

Forty

“The killer?” I whispered. “How can you tell?”

“These are Mortie’s keys,” said Dave. “They match the description given when he reported the car stolen. The odds of them being someone else’s on this kind of circular golf club key ring are crazy slim. Possible, but unlikely.”

“Think I ruined fingerprints when I picked them up?”

“Probably. But it would take longer to get the prints back than to wait for this creep to return tonight.”

I could hardly breathe. The killer had been right under our noses, sleeping in the inn!

Dave swallowed hard. “You and Liesel have to act completely normal. You understand? You cannot let on that anything is different, or you’ll tip this person off. No talking to anyone about it. Not that boyfriend of yours or employees or guests or anyone. And especially not Holmes or anyone in his family. Got it?”

“Absolutely. Neither Oma nor I would sleep a wink if we knew a murderer lurked here among us. But, you said person. You don’t think it’s a man?”

“It would take a pretty macho guy to use a sleeping bag with kittens on it.”

• • •

Oma and I shared a quiet dinner with Rose and Holmes in the private kitchen that night. The fire crackled, and candles flickered on the table. Gingersnap, Twinkletoes, and Trixie roamed underfoot. It would have been a wonderful evening but for the nightmare that hung over us all.

The garlic fettuccine smelled divine but Rose barely touched her food.

Holmes appeared none the worse for his interrogation that afternoon. He chowed down on the pasta laden with red peppers, caramelized onions, and shrimp. “They asked me if they could take a sample of my hair.” He swept a hand over the side of his head twice.

“They must think they have a sample of the killer’s hair.” I twisted my fork in the fettuccine.

“I certainly hope you refused!” Rose clutched the base of her throat.

“Not a chance. I know I didn’t kill anybody. I wish they’d eliminate me so they could concentrate on other suspects. The hair must have been longer than mine. They kept trying to get me to admit that I had it cut recently—like yesterday!”

“I hope you gave them the name of your barber in Chicago,” murmured Rose.

“You bet I did!”

“You might have to switch barbers. Can you imagine what they’ll think?” I said it in jest, hoping to lighten the mood.

Oma and Rose didn’t seem to be amused in the slightest.

“I wouldn’t mind wearing it a little longer again.”

“So, uh, just how long did they want your hair to be?” I asked.

“They didn’t say.”

I studied his hair. More than half an inch, I decided. An inch long, maybe? That included a lot of people.

“Can they determine gender from a hair?” I asked.

“If there’s DNA on it,” said Oma.

“Then they might already know whether it was a man or a woman.”

Rose spoke in a dull tone. “It was a man.”

“How do you know that?” asked Oma.

“Oh, please. You’re the one addicted to Murder, She Wrote, Liesel Fletcher.” Rose toyed with her fork. “Jerry was neither large nor particularly strong. Whoever dropped that choke collar over his head must have overpowered him.”

“Or Jerry fell down, and the killer slid it over his head. Don’t forget that the murderer bashed him in the head, too,” said Holmes. “Maybe he stumbled and that gave the killer the opportunity to slip the collar over his head.”

“Do we know what killed him?” I asked.

Holmes winced. “Given the questions they asked, I gather they think someone had a leash connected to the choke collar. I imagine it cut off his air when he fell on the stairs. Remember that outstretched hand?”

I would never forget it.

A knock on the door stilled us, but Trixie barked like a squirrel waited on the other side.

I rose and opened it, only to find Dave. My little barker wagged her tail and waited to be petted. For the first time during my visit, Dave wasn’t wearing his uniform. I knew why he’d donned black jeans and a black sweatshirt.

Dave froze at the sight of Holmes.

Holmes sprang up from his seat. “Dave! Want some fettuccine? There’s plenty.”

Dave sucked in a big breath. “Thanks, I’ve eaten.”

“Aw, come on.” Holmes slung an arm around Dave’s shoulders. “We’ve known each other forever. I don’t hold a grudge against you. You’re just doing your job.”

“Well, I’m madder than I’ve ever been at anybody.” Rose’s voice soared to a shrill pitch. “What the devil do you think you’re doing? Leave Holmes alone! Don’t you tell me you came to arrest him!”

Dave didn’t rise to her bait. Low and level, he said, “That’s not why I’m here. I apologize for interrupting your dinner. Holly, could I have a word with you?”

“Sure.” I stepped into the empty dining area. Trixie followed, and I closed the door behind us. “You’re early.”

“Don’t want to miss him.”

We walked up the stairs. I spoke in a loud voice in case anyone was listening. “You’ll be amazed by the third-floor suite. I think it would be just the place for your cousin’s honeymoon.”

A smile twitched on his lips. “She’s very picky.”

“She’ll love it! We can take some pictures to send her if you like.”

We reached the third level, and he muttered, “It disturbs me that you’re good at this.”

“Did Holmes’s hair match the ones you collected at the crime scene?”

Dave stopped dead. He exhaled and chuckled. “Holmes is no dummy. No, they didn’t match.”

“What does the hair look like?”

He paused and assessed me as though weighing how much to tell me. “Weird hair. Most of it has been sent to Richmond for analysis.”

“Weird? What does that mean? Dog fur or something?”

“Or something. Maybe a toy. It’s a mixture of human hair and some kind of synthetic hair.”

I gasped. “Jerry’s extended arm—he must have been holding something the killer wanted. So maybe it was a burglary! But who would kill over a toy?”

Dave didn’t say another word.

I pulled a duplicate key to the storage room out of my pocket. “Are you all by yourself? Shouldn’t you have backup?”

“I’ve got a backup in the parking lot, one on the front porch, and another in the lobby.”

He strode over to the bed. “No one has been here. Nothing has been moved. Okay, Holl. Thanks.”

I’d been dismissed. I handed him the duplicate key to the room. “Just in case you need it.” I called to Trixie and locked Dave inside.