A Purrfect Alibi

“Agnes Withington just told us that a television producer is in town asking about the guesthouse. I think it’s weird timing, especially with Anita Pendragon lurking around outside the mansion.” I picked a chocolate kiss out of the bowl Jen kept on the counter. Today she had the ones with the almonds inside. I like the solid chocolate better, but beggars can’t be choosers.

“What was she doing there?” Jen squinted into the machine and pulled out a ripped piece of sticker backing.

“At first I assumed she was trying to get information for a story. The psychic guests came because of the discovery of Jed’s skeleton. They’re attempting to communicate with him and find out where the treasure is.” I popped another kiss into my mouth. “But seeing as she’s the one that found Madame Zenda’s body and claims not to have seen anyone else around…”

Jen glanced up at me from the machine. “You think she could’ve killed her? Why? Seems like she’d want to keep her alive so she could get the story from Jed.”

Jen had a point. If Anita thought there really was a ghost and she killed off Madame Zenda, she’d be killing off the cash cow. “I think all this ghost business is malarkey. Someone is just hyping it up for their own purposes. What if Anita found out Madame Zenda was a fake? She saw all her hopes for an exclusive article and possibly selling the rights to the movie producer go out the window, so she killed her and staged it so she could make up some story about how the ghost killed Madame Zenda.”

Jen pointed to the Oyster Cove Gazette on the counter. “She’s already published the story. Front page, too.”

I glanced over to see the headline: Ghostly Murder at Oyster Cove Guesthouse. That was sure to go over great with Myron and any potential guests.

Jen slammed the machine shut and pressed a button. The stickers advanced and she ripped off the first one and then leaned against the counter opposite me. “What are the police saying?”

“Millie hasn’t been able to get anything out of Seth thus far.”

“Maybe Millie needs to ramp up her efforts to extract information from him.” Jen was quite familiar with the methods Millie used to get information out of Seth and we both made a face. Neither one of us needed that visualization.

“I just hope it gets solved quickly. Myron seems very nervous about the loan. He’s afraid that it’ll hurt business at the guesthouse and I won’t be able to make the monthly payments.”

“Myron’s annoying. Maybe it will help business.”

“I don’t know. Someone did cancel this morning.”

“Maybe they were sick or getting a divorce or had some other reason to cancel.” Jen’s gaze drifted over my shoulder and the lines around her lips tightened. “Crap. Here he comes now.”

“Who?” I turned around just as Myron opened the door and trotted in, trailing an air of importance behind him.

“Josie! I’m glad I’ve caught you here,” Myron said.

“Me too,” I lied.

“I need to talk to you about this business at the guesthouse. I’m very worried.”

“There’s nothing to worry about, Myron. It’s just a simple murder. I mean, it’s highly unlikely word would get out to anyone coming here to stay. Most of the guests are from out of town.” I leaned my arm on the paper to cover up the headline just in case he hadn’t seen it yet and conveniently didn’t mention the cancellation from that morning.

Myron scowled. “Be that as it may, it’s no good having those people in the guesthouse. You don’t know what they’re going to do next. Maybe even something ungodly like a seance. I say you need to get rid of them before something else happens.”

“What could possibly happen that’s worse than a murder?” I asked.

Myron shuddered. “Who knows with that ghost running about and all that.”

“Myron, you don’t actually believe in ghosts, do you?” Jen asked.

Myron straightened his blue silk paisley tie and pursed his lips together. “Of course not, but something’s going on up there and it’s not good.” He turned to me. “Anyway, I need to stop by later. I left my pen and notebook there and I need my notes.”

“Okay, I’m heading back soon.” The thought of seeing Myron twice in one day was not appealing; maybe I could just put his pen and notebook in the foyer.

The door opened and Mom and Millie bustled in, narrowing their eyes at Myron.

“Myron.” Millie nodded at him, then turned to me. “Josie, it’s time to go now. Are you ready?”

“Definitely.” I waved at Jen and let them pull me away. When I got to the door, I looked over my shoulder at Myron. “Stop by anytime. I’m headed home now.”

Outside Millie let go of my elbow. “He’s stopping by? Told you he had a crush.”

“Never mind Myron. Did you find anything out from Jen?” Mom asked.

“I didn’t find out much. Except that the murder and the ghost made the headlines. And it appears that Myron is getting more nervous about the loan he gave me.”

Fourteen