Home Sweet Murder

By Theresa M. Jarvela

Baby-boomer Meggie Moore finds life in the small town of Pine Lake, Minnesota, a little too mundane even with her part-time job at a local gift shop.

Always up for an adventure, Meggie accepts a housesitting position on Spirit Lake knowing full well there has been a rash of burglaries in that area.

Shirley, Meggie’s outspoken friend and side-kick, labels Meggie as a nut who has lost touch with reality and vehemently argues that the housesitting position would be extremely dangerous under the circumstances.

The adventure at the lake takes a sinister turn when Meggie, along with Shirley, stumble on the body of a lake neighbor. They become suspects in the murder, do some investigating in order to clear their names, and risk their own lives in the process.

• Language: English
• Publisher: North Star Press of St. Cloud
• Release date: Jun 15, 2012
• ISBN: 9780878398706

Theresa M. Jarvela

Theresa M. Jarvela, author of “Tales of a Tenacious Housesitter” cozy mystery series and freelance writer, lives in Brainerd, Minnesota, with her husband, Jack, and a yellow lab named Brandy. Visit Theresa’s website at www.theresamjarvela.com. 

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Dedication:

For Mom and Dad who let me run with my imagination and for Aunt Harriet with whom I shared a love of reading and a multitude of books.

Chapter 1

Meggie Moore bolted upright, her heart pounding. Disoriented, she looked around. The bear had vanished. She felt her face and inspected her arms. No scratches or blood. She fell back on the bed. Another dream, she thought. Exasperated, she turned toward the problem.

Walter. She gently nudged him. Walter.

Wha . . . what's the matter? he mumbled.

You're snoring again.

I was? He pulled the sheet over his head and turned over.

You really have to find a clinic that can help you, Meggie pleaded. My nightmares are getting worse.

Walter didn’t stir.

A grizzly bear this time. She paused. And don’t try to fool me. I know you’re awake. She wasn’t sure how much more she could take. Snoring had not been an issue for the first twenty-five years of marriage. These last five had been an entirely different matter.

Meggie looked at the bedside clock. It was only 5:30. Her alarm wasn't set to go off for another hour. Well, she said. I’m awake now. I might as well get up. She threw back the covers and slid off the bed.

She found her slippers near the closet, threw her summer duster over her shoulders and shuffled off to the kitchen. At the flip of a switch, light flooded the room. Before her eyes had fully adjusted, she had grabbed the coffee canister. A good strong cup of java is what I need, she thought. After carefully measuring two heaping spoonfuls into the percolator that had belonged to her mother, she turned the burner on and stepped back. Something brushed against her leg.

You awake, too? she bent and gently stroked the top of Peppie's head. He had been part of the family for nine years. Meggie would be lost without him. I suppose you’re hungry, my little tiger. She scratched his back. Reaching into the cupboard, she felt around and pulled out the last can of cat food. It had been shoved to the back. She opened it and set it down in front of him. I'll pick you up some more the next time I go shopping. I promise. But Peppie was no longer listening. Hovering over his cat chow, he ate hungrily.

Meggie looked out the window. Small puddles had pooled on the deck. She hoped it wouldn’t be a wet summer. Of course, wet was preferable to cool. Minnesota was known to have a few of those, too. She picked up the Pine Lake Courier Walter had tossed on the counter the night before and sat down at the table. The headline on the front page caught her attention immediately–—Spirit Lake Burglar Strikes Again.

This was the second home burglary on Spirit Lake in the past two months. So far there were no suspects. Meggie didn’t envy those residents. At one time, she would have enjoyed living on a lake. She looked out the window. Bird feeders hung from several of the birch trees in her backyard. A large oak stood in front of the house. She smiled. Two acres near Pine Lake suited her just fine.

When the coffee was ready, she took her favorite mug out of the cupboard and poured a cup. On the way back to the table, she noticed the blinking light on the answering machine. She hadn't checked the messages last night after returning home. She walked over and pushed play.

Four messages . . . message one, it said. "Meggie, dear, this is Vera. It's Sunday evening about 7:00. I've decided to do some rearranging at the shop tomorrow morning, and I was wondering if you’d mind coming in to help. There’s a bit of inventory to be done as well. No need to call. I'll be in around 8:00. Just come if you can. Thank you."

Message two . . . Hi, Meggie. This is Audrey. Would you like to have lunch on Wednesday? Shirley can make it if we meet after 12:00. We missed our lunch the last couple of weeks so we need to catch up. Let me know.

Message three . . . Yeah, this is Shirley. Did Audrey get a hold of you? She wants to have lunch Wednesday, and I told her you'd go. You need a break, right? Give me a call. Oh, and would you please change that greeting on your answering machine? You sound sick.

Message four . . . Yes, Meggie Moore? She didn't recognize the male voice. Your name was given to me by an acquaintance. She said you housesit on occasion. Well, my wife and I are in need of someone to watch our home on Spirit Lake for a couple of weeks. If you're interested, could you please call me as soon as possible? He gave his phone number and finished with, Oh, my name’s Ed Brown. Thank you.

Meggie tapped her chin and then replayed the message. Spirit Lake, she thought. That would be taking an unnecessary risk. She wondered who had referred her. It really didn’t matter since she had promised Walter she wouldn’t housesit anymore. She erased the first three messages but hesitated over Mr. Brown's. Not sure why, she decided to save his.

The paper lay in front of her, but try as she might she couldn't concentrate. Her mind kept wandering back to Mr. Brown’s message. She had to be honest with herself. The extra money would be useful and what exactly had she promised Walter anyway? She hadn't promised not to consider any housesitting proposals, and besides, any promises that were made had been under duress. She stood and retraced her steps to the machine and listened to the message again. This time she jotted the number down, just in case. She wasn't going to worry about the burglaries now since she wasn't sure she would even take the job.

Meggie heard Walter moving around in the bedroom. Then as if on cue, the bathroom door slammed. Soon after, the toilet flushed and the door swung open.

Hey, Walter, how about French toast this morning?

Sounds good to me. He passed her on his way to the recliner.

How many slices can you eat?

Better stick with two. He grabbed the remote control. I have that doctor's appointment today.

Meggie watched him flip through the channels.

Have to get weighed, he added, not taking his eyes off the screen.

A light breakfast today was not going to fool the doctor, she thought. He had been told repeatedly to lose weight but it had never been a priority of his. She had come to the realization that there was nothing she could do short of taping his mouth shut. Unlike Walter, weight had never been an issue with her.

By the time Meggie had all the ingredients out to start breakfast, Walter was reclining and watching the local news. He loved the way his mother used to make French toast so that's the way she always prepared it—eggs, milk, a little vanilla, and a dash of cinnamon. Once it was in the pan, she poured two glasses of orange juice, another cup of coffee for herself and one for Walter. She set the table making sure to put the sugar-free syrup on. The real deal hunkered down in the back of the cupboard.

Mmmm, sure smells good. Walter smiled, pulled out his chair and sat down.

After consuming the first slice of toast, he asked rather sheepishly, Have a problem sleeping last night?

Meggie didn't want to talk about his snoring. The subject was worn out and nothing ever seemed to be done about it. Until just recently, he wouldn't even admit he snored. After searching for quite some time, Meggie had located a clinic that specialized in snoring, but when she tried to talk him into checking it out, he refused. He always had one excuse or another.

Maybe you should ask the doctor what he suggests you do, or maybe I should just move into the guest bedroom.

As usual, Walter changed the subject. Looks like it could be a nice day today. Are you working?

Yes, Vera wants me to come in and help with inventory. I’ll stop at Billy’s Market on the way home and pick up some cat food. Do you need anything?

Nah, Walter replied. Guess not.

Throughout breakfast Meggie thought about the message she had received about the housesitting job but didn't mention it to Walter. Why get him all worked up for nothing? When and if the time came, she’d tell him. She had to admit the thought of the last housesitting fiasco made her shudder.

There was a lull in the conversation and Walter looked up at Meggie. You're awfully quiet.

Oh, I was just thinking about you. Make sure you tell the doctor about that chest pain you had the other night.

Just indigestion, Meggie. That's all.

Chapter 2

As she slowed her car and turned into the parking lot behind Hearts and Flowers Gift Shop, she noticed a number of cars. Parking in Pine Lake during tourist season was always a challenge. Meggie didn’t complain. Tourists brought in money. Besides, she walked the mile to work most days when the weather was nice.

Main Street Tavern, next door to the gift shop, had reserved parking for their staff but it wasn't unusual for a patron, too intoxicated to drive home, to leave his car in one of the spaces overnight. Meggie pulled into a vacant spot. She locked the car, slung her purse over her shoulder and walked across the lot.

Vera Cunningham had lost her husband to cancer early in their marriage. Left without a means to support herself, she took a leap of faith and invested what money she had into the gift shop. Since she had no children and never remarried, she was able to devote her life to it.

The previous owners had not been able to support their growing family on the revenue they made. Upon selling they moved to the Minneapolis area to find work. It was a good deal for both parties.

The bell above the door tinkled. Hello, Meggie called. There were no customers around but she heard a racket coming from the back of the shop.

I'm in the back, Meggie. I'll be right out.

Footfalls and a squeaking ladder told Meggie that Vera was climbing again. She had warned her repeatedly about the dangers of using the ladder, especially while working alone.

Good morning, dear. Vera, a spry, tiny lady in her late seventies parted the curtains separating the rooms. I was just storing that last shipment of inventory. Maybe you could finish for me?

I’d be glad to, Meggie said, but we might need to find a bigger shop so we have more room in the back.

Oh, this is perfectly fine. Vera looked around and added, We manage very well.

I didn’t check my messages until this morning so I came in without calling. Walter and I went out last night. Meggie slipped out of her sweater.

Well, isn't that nice. Vera's eyes twinkled and a smile lit her face.

"Yes, I had to drag him out, but he really enjoyed himself. The Odd Couple is playing at the college theatre."

Oh, my. What a wonderful play. Nettie and I went last Sunday. We thoroughly enjoyed it, and they had the most delicious cookies and treats.

The bell tinkled and Vera excused herself to wait on a rather large brusque woman who frequented the shop often. After greeting her, Meggie retreated to the break room where she hung her sweater on the small coat tree Vera had brought from home and put her purse inside the antique desk.

The inventory, which was stored in the rear of the building, was separated from the break room by curtains so it was possible to hear customers enter the shop even while working alone. Meggie pushed the curtain aside and took a quick look-see to find out just where Vera had left off. Then she set to work.

About mid-morning Vera peeked in and asked if Meggie would like to take a break and have a cup of tea. Her timing was perfect since the last of Jewelry by Jenny had been placed on the shelves. Meggie moved the ladder aside and smiled. Tea sounds wonderful.

Vera took two blueberry muffins from the small refrigerator and placed them in the microwave. Meggie recalled how Vera had balked at the idea of buying a microwave and had vowed she never would. Her cousin, Nettie, who was about the same age, had talked her into purchasing one with a testimonial of how it had improved her life. Nettie had found it to be such a convenience, assuring Vera she would never want to be without one if only she would give it a try. So Vera had relented. I won’t have one at home, she had told Meggie the day it was delivered to the shop, but it will do very nicely here.

Vera poured hot water into their personal mugs. Each staff had a mug with a different kind of flower painted on the front. In the center of the table was a basket with a variety of tea bags. Meggie reached for Earl Grey, her favorite. For that reason, Vera kept it in great supply.

Have you seen the new embroidered pillow cases Nettie made? I was showing them to Bertha earlier. She just loved them and bought two right off. Not many ladies embroider nowadays, Vera said wistfully and sipped her tea.

Is Nettie feeling better? Meggie knew she had taken ill some months back, and Vera had been so worried about her she had found it difficult to keep her mind on the business.

Oh, much better now. She has an ulcer you know. And every once in a while it acts up, but she's doing fine. Vera daintily wiped her mouth on her tea napkin. She’ll be pleased to know you inquired about her.

The muffins were delicious, as usual, and they were able to finish them before the bell tinkled out front. Meggie said she would see to the clean-up so Vera hurried out to take care of the customer.

After tidying up, Meggie went into the store room, folded the ladder and placed it near the back entrance so it was out of the way. Then she broke down the empty boxes and carried them out to the garbage. She was sweeping the floor when the phone rang out front. Vera’s shoes clicked on the tile. She stuck her head through the curtain to let Meggie know she had a call. It's your lovey, dear. He’d like a word with you.

Thanks, Meggie set the broom aside.

She picked up the phone and sat down on the stool conveniently located behind the till. She wondered what lovey wanted and if he had discovered the message on the machine.

Hello, Meggie held the receiver to her ear. Oh, he left it last night. Her smile faded and a frown appeared. No, I didn't call him back but . . . Walter . . . would you please listen? All right. I'll be leaving here shortly, and we can talk about it when I get home. Okay. See you in a bit.

Is something wrong, dear? Vera looked concerned.

Not really. Walter’s just having one of his anxiety attacks about a message left on our answering machine. Meggie had no desire to talk about it.