Birthdays Can Be Deadly (4 page)

The sun rose over Sage Gardens the next morning, but the usual cheerful atmosphere was missing. There were no joggers making their way around the lake. No one was walking a little dog yipping with urgency to empty its bladder. Walt noticed the change in the surroundings right away. He sipped his coffee and looked out of his front window at the strangely desolate setting. It left him unsettled when things were different. He drank out of the same mug each morning. He bought the same brand of coffee. He added exactly the same amount of milk. Things made sense when they were the same. Otherwise, there would be chaos. Even though the morning was quiet, but for the birds tweeting in the trees, Walt felt as if he was immersed in chaos.

“Where is everyone?” he finally wondered out loud. Then he remembered. James was dead. Most people were probably hiding out in their villas, not wanting to be the first person to emerge and act as if things were back to normal. It would be offensive to do that of course. It wasn’t like there hadn’t been a few deaths at Sage Gardens. But for some reason the fact that James, a seemingly fit and healthy man, had died on his birthday made this death hit the residents a little harder.

Walt then remembered that he was supposed to be meeting Eddy and Samantha down by the lake to discuss the investigation into whether James had been murdered. Walt still felt uneasy about getting involved. His career as an accountant had caused him to encounter many different types of people. His mindset was always to stay out of their personal business and focus only on numbers. Numbers didn't kill people.

He finished the last of his coffee and washed the mug. He set the mug in its place on the shelf above the sink. Then he walked over to the door and slipped his shoes on. He tied them carefully. He stood up and opened the door to the villa. He drew a long breath before stepping out into the world. He much preferred to hide away and only interact on his own terms. As he was walking down towards the lake he saw Samantha walking towards it as well. He raised his hand to wave to her, but she looked fairly distracted. Walt looked past her up towards the main square and the recreation hall. He noticed that Owen and Eddy were talking. He sighed as he realized there was no turning back now, he was ankle deep in what might turn out to be a murder investigation.

***

Eddy intended to be the first down by the lake. He had been awake most of the night, partially because of his encounter with Jo and the strange familiarity he felt with her, but also because he was thinking about James. The more he considered the possibility that he had been poisoned, the more sense it made to him. James was far too healthy to drop dead of a heart attack. But he had died in a hall full of witnesses. When he walked down towards the lake he took the long way past the recreation hall. He wanted to see if anyone was hanging around. He looked up at the sound of someone calling his name.

“Eddy,” Owen called out and waved to him as he jogged across the courtyard in front of the main office.

“Owen,” Eddy nodded and adjusted his hat. “Is everything all right?”

“Yes, I guess,” Owen replied. He glanced around to be sure that no one else was in ear shot. Then he looked back at Eddy. “The medical examiner called me. He wanted to know the details of James' death and he asked me to put any remaining food and drink aside from the party as they were going to come and bag it for analysis.”

“Oh really?” Eddy asked, quite intrigued. He didn't want to jump the gun. “Did he say why?”

“He said he had some suspicions, but wouldn't know anything solid until the tox screen comes in. I just thought that you would want to know,” he added and couldn't hide a slight smile. “We were right.”

“In this case I think it would be better if we were wrong,” Eddy sighed and shook his head. He caught sight of Samantha and Walt talking near the lake.

“Who do you think would have done it?” Owen asked quickly. “If he was poisoned I mean. Do you think it was someone at the party?”

“Don't start lining up suspects, Owen,” Eddy warned him. “As far as we know, it's still natural causes. If you start looking at people funny, the killer, if there is one, might get tipped off.”

“Oh, good point,” Owen nodded and then smiled at Eddy. “I am learning so much from you.”

“Well, I don't know how much of it will help you in doctor school,” Eddy pointed out.

“You'd be surprised,” Owen said. “Often finding the cause of an illness is a lot like being a detective.”

“Well, then I'm sure that you'll be a great one,” Eddy said and offered one of his rare genuine smiles.

“Thanks, Eddy,” Owen smiled in return.

“Can anyone help me?” a voice called out from just in front of the main office. Owen glanced over his shoulder. It was Mike, James' son.

“Excuse me, I have to help Mike collect his father's things,” Owen explained and walked away from Eddy quickly. Eddy narrowed his eyes as he watched Owen walk towards Mike. He didn't exactly seem heartbroken over the loss of his father, but then, grief didn't always show on the surface. Sometimes it hid deep below. Still, Eddy thought it might not be a bad idea to observe a little longer.

“I just went to my father's villa to collect his things,” Mike said sharply. “I found all of his stuff boxed up.”

“Yes, some of the staff got together and did that. We always do that for deceased residents. We thought it would be easier for you that way,” Owen explained with a half-hearted smile. “Is it a problem?”

“It's a problem when things are stolen from his villa,” Mike barked in return. Eddy felt the urge to intervene. He didn't like to see Owen spoken to that way. But he restrained himself. He knew that Owen could handle himself.

“Stolen? What was stolen?” Owen asked with disbelief.

“My father's watch. Actually, it was his father's watch. It is very valuable and it is nowhere to be found,” Mike growled.

“Perhaps he was wearing it?” Owen suggested. “Maybe he wanted to wear it since it was a special occasion?”

“If that were the case then the medical examiner would have it,” Mike said through gritted teeth. “I've already called him. He does not have any watch.”

“Wow,” Owen lowered his eyes for a moment as if considering what to say. “Let me go to his villa with you. Maybe it's just been overlooked.”

“No, it was not overlooked,” Mike snapped. “I looked through the whole villa and all of the boxes. What kind of place is this?” Mike demanded as he stepped closer to Owen. “I trusted you to take care of my father. I was told by the owners of this place that it was safe, now he's dead, and his watch has been stolen. Is that what happens here? One of the residents dies so everything they have in their villa is fair game?”

“Sir, I'm sorry for you loss,” Owen said sympathetically. “I know that this is a difficult time. I can certainly convey your concerns to the owners, and also offer you their contact information. However, you should know that I am the nurse here. I am not in charge of the villas, or the security of residents’ possessions.”

“Whatever,” Mike shook his head, clearly aggravated. “All I want is my father's watch. I want all of the employees searched. You know what, I want all of the residents searched as well.”

Owen sighed and reached into his pocket. He pulled out his wallet and sorted through it until he found the business card that he was looking for. He held it out to Mike.

“You'll have to call the owners if you want that done,” he explained.

“Or maybe I'll just call the police,” Mike snapped back. He took the business card and tucked it safely into his pocket.

“Again, I am very sorry for your loss,” Owen said with genuine sympathy. “If I find out any information about your father's watch I will let you know.”

“You do just that,” Mike growled. “If anyone has any decency in this place, that watch will turn up.”

“Like I said, if I hear anything, I'll call,” Owen replied in a sterner voice. He met Mike's eyes with an unwavering stare.

“Will you at least help me load up the boxes?” Mike relented.

“Gladly,” Owen replied. The two men began to walk off towards James' villa. Eddy watched them go, then he turned and began walking down towards the lake. Mike's outrage was warranted, but something about the way he was being so demanding made Eddy wonder if all he truly cared about were his father's valuables.

When he reached the bench and canopy where Samantha and Walt were sitting, he was still lost in thought.

“What was that about?” Walt asked.

“Huh?” Eddy glanced up at him.

“What were you and Owen talking about?” Walt asked more specifically.

“Owen informed me that the medical examiner has run a tox screen and is waiting for the results. The medical examiner asked for the remaining food and drink from the party, so I think he thinks it might have been poisoned,” he frowned and glanced back towards James' old villa. “Apparently, when James’ son arrived to collect his things, his father's antique watch was missing. He's insisting that someone from Sage Gardens stole it.”

“How terrible,” Samantha said and shook her head with disgust. “I remember him wearing that watch on occasion.  It was certainly eye-catching.”

“Someone stole the poor man's watch,” Walt said gravely. He lightly touched the watch on his own wrist, as if to make sure that it was still there. “He's not even in the grave. Who would be so cruel?”

“Was that all that was taken?” Samantha asked. She was intrigued by the missing watch, as it was possible that the same person who killed James also stole his watch.

“So far it seems to be,” Eddy replied. “If anything else is missing then I am sure that Mike will let everyone know. He's already on the warpath about it.”

Walt shook his head and glared down at his shoes. “I can take a lot of things, Eddy, but I can't tolerate a thief.”

“Maybe the watch was just misplaced,” Eddy suggested with a mild shrug. “In the chaos of a sudden death, sometimes things go missing, only to be found in a strange place later.”

“Seems suspicious though, doesn't it?” Samantha asked. “First a murder and now a theft.”

“We don't know that either are what they seem just yet,” Eddy reminded them.

“Hey, remember that Mike brought his father his very own cupcake,” Samantha said out of the blue. “If the medical examiner requested leftover food and drink to be examined he must suspect that the poison was in the food. It couldn't have been in the cake, because we all ate that.”

“But James was the only one to eat the gluten-free cupcake,” Walt agreed.

“You know, Mike had just come back into James’ life,” Eddy pointed out gravely. “I'm not sure what their falling out was about, but I know it kept them from talking for years.”

“Yes, there was some big argument between them when James was younger,” Walt nodded as he recalled a conversation that he had with James. “I thought it was great that the two of them began talking again. At least, on his final day, James was with his son.”

“Which is rather coincidental, don't you think?” Eddy pressed and tried to meet Walt's eyes. Walt was busy fidgeting with the cuff of his sleeve which was slightly shorter than the other.

“What are you implying, Eddy?” he asked and glanced up abruptly to meet Eddy's eyes.

“I’m just pointing out that it seems awfully convenient that James’ son makes up with him, then suddenly he dies of a supposed heart attack, with Mike right by his side,” Eddy shrugged. “Call me cynical but sometimes bad blood doesn't heal, sometimes it just gets worse.”

“That is cynical,” Samantha said with a slight shake of her head. “But it's not necessarily wrong. I think we need to consider Mike as a suspect. He had the opportunity with that sole cupcake he made.”

“He looked pretty happy to be with his father though,” Walt pointed out.

“Happiness is easily faked,” Eddy said.

Samantha glanced over at him, but she didn't argue with him, instead she took a deep breath.

“Okay, well I think we need to find out who stole the watch. Maybe that will give us a bit more information about what really happened. Eddy, why don't you talk to some of the staff and see if you can find out who might have been in or near James' room yesterday?”

“I can do that,” he agreed.

“I'll see what I can get from the party committee,” Samantha offered.

“You mean the gossip committee,” Eddy laughed a little.

“They always know everything that is going on, so it won't hurt to ask,” Samantha pointed out.

“I can dig into Mike’s financials,” Walt said with a slow smile. “I still know how to get just about all of the information that I would need. If you want to know why someone would be murdered, the first place you should look is the money.”

“That would be great,” Samantha said with a proud smile. “I knew that there was a way to figure all of this out.”

“All of this is going to mean nothing if the tox screen comes back clear,” Eddy pointed out grimly.

“Well, if it comes back clear then we will have just had a little adventure looking into things. If it doesn't, then we will have information to help the police get justice for James,” Samantha argued in return. She could tell that Eddy was feeling uncertain about the investigation. “What could be wrong with that?”