Murderous Matrimony(54)

“Did David Olson deserve worse?” Detective Almond’s usual voice had an edge to it. “I understand there was an altercation between you because you thought he stole your antique crossbow from the weapon museum.”

“We had words. But when I left, he was alive and healthy.” Master Simmons sounded defensive. His voice wavered a little.

I went to stand beside him. “He didn’t kill Bob either.”

“Are you sure about that, Jessie?” Detective Almond put away his notebook. “Because my helpful source from the Village was Robert Maxwell, our new corpse. He sent us the photo which was taken in Mr. Simmons’s apartment here at the Village.”

“I found the crossbow,” Master Simmons admitted. “I was hiding it because I didn’t want it at the museum again. It belongs to me.”

“Where did you find it?” Chase asked.

“I found it at the entrance to Sherwood Forest, where the note said I would.”

“What note?” Detective Almond demanded.

Master Simmons shrugged. “It was just a note I found at the shop. The thief said he was returning it.”

“Do you still have the note?”

“No. I threw it away.”

Chase looked grim. “What about the bolts?”

“They weren’t with it. I didn’t say anything because I knew Dave had been killed with one.”

It struck me that Sofie might have been able to make this shot with a crossbow. There was no motive, as far as I could see, but there was no motive for Master Simmons either.

Sofie, Master Simmons, Phil, and Shakespeare were all out around the museum the night Dave was killed. It didn’t make sense why any of them would kill him. What was going on?

Someone was definitely trying to set up Master Simmons. We knew the antique crossbow wouldn’t have worked to kill Dave or Bob. It had to be a new crossbow shooting the repaired bolts. The chances were good that the police wouldn’t know that. The killer seemed to be betting on that fact.

“Betting!” I said it out loud without really meaning to. Everyone stared at me.

“Jessie?” Chase smiled.

“What if the bookie, John Healy, set this whole thing up? What if he hired someone in the Village to kill Dave because he owed him money?”

“Okay.” Detective Almond shrugged. “Mostly bookies don’t kill people. They just hurt them so they pay the next time.”

“But what if this had gone too far and Healy wanted Dave dead?”

“I don’t know where you’re going with this, Jessie,” Detective Almond said. “Unless you’re saying Mr. Simmons is working for the bookie.”

“Sofie. Master Simmons, Shakespeare, Phil Ferguson, and Dave were all around the museum the night Dave was killed.”

“Are you saying one of them is working for Healy?” Chase asked.

“Bob told me about seeing the archer at the museum the night Dave was killed. I found out it was Sofie. She and Shakespeare are having an affair. I didn’t think she killed Dave, but maybe I was wrong.”

“At the museum? Why would anyone have an affair at a museum?” Detective Almond glanced at me. “Help me out here.”

“Go ahead,” Wanda prompted. “Tell him that my ex-husband is afraid to leave the museum because he’s afraid of me. I dare you.”

“Shakespeare is having some . . . issues with his own place. Sofie lives in the forest with the Merry Men. You could see why she wouldn’t want to bring him there.”

“Of course. If I lived in the forest with the Merry Men, I wouldn’t want to bring Shakespeare home either.” Detective Almond threw up his hands. “This place is a loony bin. I’ve said it for years. Walters, Macintyre—round up Sofie, the forest lady, and bring her and Mr. Shakespeare with us. Mr. Simmons, I’d like to continue this conversation with you at the station.”

Master Simmons hugged me. There were tears in his eyes. “Don’t worry, Jessie, everything will be fine.”

The police took him, leaving me sobbing into Chase’s shoulder. “Robin’s going to hate me.”

He put his arm around me. “You told him what you knew. He’ll sort it out.”

*

Chase stayed to help with the crime scene work at the Hawk Stage—and to deal with Lord Maximus. The police went to Master Simmons’s apartment at The Feathered Shaft and found the antique crossbow. I saw them take it out of the Village as they went.

I took our beautiful cradle back to the Dungeon. There was a place for it if I took everything off of a shelf—which I did. I hated to think it would have to be stored somewhere away from us, but what choice did we have?