Murderous Matrimony(17)

“For a while.” He put away his radio. “If people get hurt, that will fade very quickly. And if we lose shop owners like Polo’s, it will happen even faster.”

I walked with him to the Main Gate where he’d have to meet with the reporters. I told him about the bookie that may have been responsible for Dave’s death by crossbow.

“I suppose it’s possible,” he admitted. “After what I just saw, anything is possible. Jessie, have you tried reasoning with Wanda? I know the two of you didn’t get along while she was alive, but maybe if you explained things to her, it would help.”

“You mean about the Village closing of she keeps it up? I’ll try. I don’t think she’ll listen. Good luck with the reporters.” I kissed him quickly and we parted ways.

Merlin was emerging from Madame Lucinda’s purple and gold tent. I could tell by the confused and dazed look on his face that she didn’t have any better answers for him.

Maybe he’d seen Buttercup!

“There you are!” Merlin pointed at me with his staff. “I want to talk to you.”

As he reached me, a group of knights from the Field of Honor thundered by on the cobblestones. Their armor gleamed in the sun, individual colors flashing, swords and lances drawn. Behind them came their squires and lackeys carrying their brightly colored banners, and signs that showed the times of the next joust.

Merlin grasped my arm and held on to his hat. “You know, I’ve told these riders a dozen times not to ride up so quickly. It scares the bejesus out of me. I’m sure other people are scared too. Not good for business. Not good at all.”

But as I looked around, visitors were standing on the grass, to one side or the other of their path. They were applauding and laughing. Children loved the riders. Adults were dazzled by their precision artistry.

“Like Wanda?” I suggested.

“Exactly.” He scowled back at the fortune teller’s tent. “She was no help at all! I don’t think she knows how to get rid of a ghost. I’ll have to consult my own sources.”

“Chase doesn’t know how to get rid of a ghost either, but I’ll mention the riders to him,” I promised. “I wanted to talk to you about Dave the Madman’s murder.”

“Yes?” He started up the path back to his apothecary that was so loved by all the visitors. Horace the moldy moose was waiting, along with his colored vials and bugs.

“You know Dave was killed, right?”

“Of course! I know everything that goes on around here.”

That might have been an exaggeration, but I wasn’t questioning it. “Well, I’ve been looking into it. I think Dave may have been killed because he owed money to a bookie in Myrtle Beach.”

“Really?” He paused and stroked his beard. “Does the bookie have a name?”

“John Healy.”

“Never heard of him.” He used his staff to quicken his pace past Totally Toad Footstools and the Treasure Trove.

“Apparently, Dave was gambling, and losing heavily.”

“Why are you telling me this?” He stopped again. “Why are you so interested? Were you having an affair with Dave?”

“No! Of course not! I’m marrying Chase in two weeks!” I took a deep breath. “I was looking into it because the police are questioning Manny, my assistant. The antique crossbow and bolts Master Simmons donated to the museum are missing too. They may have been the murder weapons.”

He’d stopped again near the big fountain on the King’s Highway between Our Lady’s Gemstones and Sarah’s Scarves. “Manny? Oh you mean the young Prince.”

“Not you too!”

He chuckled. “You have your sights set on him, don’t you?”

“Merlin!”

“Lady Jessie, stay out of police business—for once! Pick some flowers for your wedding bouquet. Deal with that pesky blue ghost. There must be other things you can do!”

I let him walk away that time. There was no use trying to talk to him about it. I could never tell if he really knew much about the Village or he was just crazy anyway. If he did know something useful, it was hard trying to get him to tell anyone else!

It appeared, for all of my belief that I could make things better, nothing was changing.

I caught sight of Detective Almond coming toward me, and would have scurried away, but it was too late. He was already flagging me down.

Now what?





Chapter Six



“Jessie Morton,” Detective Almond greeted me. “Just the woman I was searching for. I’m looking for a crossbow, and more information about your assistant. The man has no background at all, did you know that?”