Birds of a Feather (An Agnes Barton Senior Sleuth Mystery Book 9) Read online

  Birds of a Feather

  An Agnes Barton Senior Sleuths Mystery

  Madison Johns

  Copyright © 2015 Madison Johns

  Birds of a Feather Madison Johns

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  Birds of a Feather

  Birds of a Feather flock together in Tawas, Michigan, as the Tawas Point Birding Festival comes to town. Agnes and Eleanor are happy to be home again, but are back to their investigative ways after a deadly accident occurs on Plank Road. They’re ready to grab their binoculars and search high and low for the truth about what really happened, even if they’re the only ones who think that a crime has been committed.

  Chapter One

  I hadn’t been home in three long months. Not that I’m complaining that Andrew and I went on a honeymoon cruise with Eleanor and Mr. Wilson. We’d been lugging the same clothes around in these suitcases for way too long, though, and I was quite happy to be home at last.

  I pulled the last of the items out of my suitcase. I then stared at the two-inch heeled sandals. What had possessed me to buy such a thing? It’s not like a woman of seventy-two ever needed to be gallivanting around town in heels. Not when you live in Tawas, Michigan, that is. Why, here in Tawas, we live a simpler life. Of course, since it’s only May, it’s hardly sandal weather in Tawas, anyway, but tomorrow, the Tawas Point Birding Festival would begin. It’s the one time of the year that you won’t be arrested for carrying around binoculars.

  I set the sandals in my Goodwill box to drop off later and wandered into the living room. I barely sat down before Duchess, my Russian Blue, plopped in my lap. She nipped me on my fingers, which I knew was in part because I had left her with Mr. Wilson’s granddaughter Millicent while we were gone. Now I couldn’t seem to put any distance between Duchess and me. She even slept between me and Andrew. So far, Andrew hadn’t said it bothered him, but it certainly bothered me.

  There was a knock on my door and I had to wiggle until Duchess climbed off my lap. When I answered the door, Eleanor and Mr. Wilson stood there, wearing khaki cargo pants and jackets, binoculars hanging on strings around their necks.

  “Whatever are you two doing? Going on a safari?”

  “Agnes Barton, you know perfectly well what we’re doing here. Tomorrow is the Birding Festival and I thought we’d try on our outfits for size. Anyway, Tawas is packed and I thought we could go down to get a bite to eat. I don’t know about you, but I haven’t even gone grocery shopping and my cupboards are empty.”

  “I can’t. Andrew isn’t even home yet.”

  “Who else do you think brought Eleanor and Wilson?” Andrew said, appearing from behind them.

  I tried to smile until I saw that Andrew was dressed just like Eleanor and Wilson, and he held another matching outfit on a hanger. I just knew it would be mine.

  “Oh, no,” I said. “I’m not about to go out dressed like that. Isn’t it bad enough that there are bird watchers from all over the country here for the weekend?”

  “I don’t think so,” Andrew said. “Be a good girl and play along.”

  I could think of better things to do with my day, like climb back in bed. “And I don’t have a choice in the matter?”

  “Nope, go on and get dressed. Elsie has invited us to dinner at her house and we were told to be dressed like bird watchers.”

  “Elsie’s house? I knew it wouldn’t work out with Jack Winston.” Who, by the way, I didn’t care for a bit and Eleanor was practically enemies with him. That is, until Elsie and Jack began dating, or I should say, until they moved in together. I had been shocked even more to find out that Elsie and Jack had had an affair when Jack’s wife was alive. Even if it was brief, it was still wrong. Since Jack’s wife died, he preferred to be in the company of much younger women.

  “We’ll find out when we get there, if you get a move on,” Andrew said.

  I dragged my feet all the way into the next room and changed clothing, but when I admired myself in the mirror, I didn’t look too bad considering I wasn’t going to join Indiana Jones on an adventure.

  We left not long after and once we were settled in Andrew’s Lexus LX, off we went. Andrew bypassed US 23 and went up M-55, which is only one of three state highways that goes from Lake Huron to Lake Michigan in the lower peninsula. It crosses rural forests and farmland and two major rivers.

  Andrew made the turn on 55 and eased on to Plank Road not long after. We passed farmland until we entered a forested area, turning into Elsie’s driveway, which was quite packed. I just didn’t know what to expect. We got out of the LX and Andrew grabbed Wilson’s walker for him, helping him out of the car.

  “Blast it man, I can get out of this contraption without any help, you know.”

  “Now, Wilson,” Eleanor said. “That’s not very nice.”

  “I’m sorry, Andrew. All that time traveling and using an electric wheelchair has gotten on my nerves. I really feel like I’ve lost some of my mobility and I’m too gosh darn proud to tell anyone,” he sniveled.

  “Oh, Wilson.” Eleanor gave him a big hug. “Why didn’t you tell me, snookums?”

  “Snookums?” repeated Elsie. She happened to be standing in the doorway, without any of us noticing her until then.

  “Now, Elsie,” Eleanor said. “How long have you been standing there?”

  “Just opened the door when I heard the snookums comment.”

  “Well, are you going to let us in or what?” Eleanor asked.

  “Sure thing. We’ve all been looking forward to you four coming home.”

  Elsie led the way inside and everyone yelled, “Surprise!”

  I placed a hand over my chest. Blue and white balloons were attached to the streamers and everyone we knew was here. My daughter Martha and Captain Hamilton from our cruise, my granddaughter Sophia and her husband Trooper Sales and their baby Andrea, and many friends, too countless to mention.

  I took baby Andrea into my arms and bounced her gently.

  “Hey, I thought we were supposed to dress like bird watchers?” Eleanor asked, mirroring my own thoughts.

  Marjory and Bill Hays were laughing so hard that their faces were red. “It worked like a charm,” Marjory said.

  “I wouldn’t have wanted to miss this,” Bill said, pulling his cell phone out and snapping a picture. “I’m putting this on the bulletin board at the Tawas Chamber of Commerce. They’ll get a real chuckle out of this.”

  I hugged Rosa Lee Hill, who was here with her sons, Curt and Curtis. They had ties to the Michigan Militia, but I could always count on them in a pinch.

  “So what’s new, Rosa Lee?”

  “Oh, nothing much. The state police raided my potpourri store. It seems someone told them I was running an illegal medical marijuana dispensary.”

  “Who told them that?”

  Rosa Lee rubbed her ha
nds together. “It might have something to do with the chemicals I use to help my plants grow. Apparently they’re also used to grow marijuana plants.”

  Eleanor’s mouth formed a big O. “But I thought you were on the up-and-up.”

  “Oh, but I am. I swear I’m no longer growing anything illegal. Of course I do have my card that allows me to grow twelve plants, but I know better than to sell them and I don’t grow them at my shop.”

  “Sounds like business as usual to me,” Dorothy Alton said. “What medical condition do you have that warrants smoking that stuff?” She wrinkled her upper lip. “It smells so nasty.”

  “I have glaucoma, if you need to know. Why else do you think my glasses are this thick?”

  “I thought this was our surprise party?” Eleanor asked.

  “She’s right,” I added. “What Rosa Lee does in the comfort of her own home is her business.” I walked over to the table laid out with food. “I, for one, am hungry.”

  Sophia came over and took the baby while I loaded my plate with hot dogs, potato salad, baked beans, and Elsie’s famous spiked lemonade that was a staple at her parties. I led the way over to a table, sitting down. Andrew, Eleanor, and Wilson joined me.

  Eleanor immediately began sloshing down her lemonade. “Eleanor, you better have something to eat first or that lemonade will go straight to your head.”

  “I know. Why else do you think I’m drinking it?” she laughed.

  I bit down on my hot dog and swallowed with a huge lump in my throat. A muscular man walked in dressed all in black and I got up and hugged him. “Oh, Stuart. I’m so happy to see you here.” Stuart was my son who works for the FBI.

  “How could I miss your coming home party?”

  I was beyond happy. I had reconnected with my son only recently and it was a special treat whenever he came to town. “Did you bring your wife?”

  “No. She’s on assignment in Florida. I’m only here for the party before I have to head down there, too.”

  I sighed. “Well, it’s good to see you, anyway. Why don’t you get yourself a bite to eat and we can talk.”

  “Hey, mother,” Martha exclaimed. “Where’s my hug?”

  “Sorry, Martha.” I gave her a tight hug and when I pulled away, I smiled at Captain Hamilton. How he went from being cruise ship captain to being right here right now in Tawas, I had no idea, but he was obviously quite taken with Martha.

  “Nice to see you again, Hamilton.”

  “You can call me Adam. I’m no longer a captain.”

  It would be very hard to call him Adam when Captain Hamilton fit him so much better, even though today he was wearing Bermuda shorts and a T-shirt.

  I went back to my table and finished my meal. Trooper Sales was dressed in his uniform and was bouncing Andrea on his knee. His eyes met mine and he said, “I’m on duty after the party.”

  “I’m sure with the Tawas Point Birding Festival set to begin tomorrow there are plenty of people in town already,” Eleanor said.

  “You have that right, and I’m hoping for an uneventful weekend.”

  “Why wouldn’t it be?” I asked.

  “It might have something to do with the fact that whenever you’re in town, crime seems to make an appearance.”

  “Now, Bill,” Sophia began. “It’s not her fault she happens to be in the right place at the wrong time. Or is it the wrong place at the right time?”

  Sales arched a brow and bit down on his hot dog instead of responding.

  After dinner Eleanor and I tried to help with cleaning up, but Elsie wouldn’t let us. I followed Eleanor into the kitchen where she began to give Elsie the third degree. “So where is your man … you know, Jack Winston?”

  She didn’t turn to look in our direction, instead continuing to rinse the dishes.

  “Now, Eleanor. It’s none of our business if Jack broke up with Elsie already. Lord knows, Jack is hardly the man to settle down, even with the socialite of Tawas. It must be hard to be in a relationship with a woman of Elsie’s stature.”

  “Would you two quit your blubbering? Jack is on a fishing trip with his son Henry.”

  “But I thought you were living with Jack at the house his son bought him?” I asked.

  “It’s being renovated so Jack has been staying with Henry while I stay here.”

  “Why suddenly separate if you’re doing so well together?”

  Elsie finally turned and wiped her hands on a towel. There wasn’t even one water spot on her powder blue outfit she was famous for. “It’s strange, but you know I’ve never lived with a man before and I just don’t want to do it here. This house is sacred to me. My husband Gus drew his last breath right upstairs and I just can’t fathom the thought that another man would ever sleep in our room.”

  I could understand exactly what she meant. “After my Tom died, I never lived with a man until I married Andrew.”

  Tears pooled in Elsie’s eyes. “I still miss my Gus and had forgotten just how much until I came back here. I must admit that I rather like my house and don’t want to leave it. I’m just not sure how Jack will take it.”

  “Oh, so you want to be in a relationship with Jack, just not live with him?” Eleanor said.

  “Exactly.”

  “I’m sure you’ll sort it out, Elsie. If Jack really cares about you, he’ll understand.”

  Elsie tossed up her hands. “It’s getting way too serious in here.” She reached into her cabinet and pulled out a bottle of vodka, sloshing it. “I must have forgotten to spike the lemonade. Would you care for a glass, girls?”

  Eleanor and I nodded and took the offered glass, but we had taken no more than a sip before Martha came into the room. “I hate to break up the hen party, but Sales just received a call on his radio. Sounded like they found a body in a car just down the road.”

  Chapter Two

  I hated to leave the party since it was for Eleanor and me, but it’s like we just saw the Batman light in the sky. When crime comes to our town, Eleanor and I go into action.

  I led the way out of the kitchen, snatching up the keys Andrew held out for me. He didn’t question our departure. He knew this was who we were. I only hoped we’d be able to find out some information at the crime scene.

  Eleanor and I hopped in the LX and I nearly fell backwards as the driver’s seat was so far back. I quickly had to power the seat into the right position for me and then off I went. I didn’t have to go far before it became apparent where the crime scene was, as the blue and white bubble lights from the cop cars led us right there.

  The twisted metal of an Impala was wrapped around a tree. The car so crunched that it would take the Jaws of Life to remove the occupant.

  “I don’t understand,” Eleanor said. “This can’t be a crime scene. It looks like just a car accident.”

  “Perhaps Martha had it wrong, but we’ll take a look anyway.”

  I coasted up to the crime scene, pulling into a driveway that led into the woods, and shut off the engine.

  “What are we doing here?” Eleanor asked.

  “We’ll take a walk in the woods.”

  “I don’t see how that’s going to help.”

  “We’ll go around from behind to see what we can hear. It’s not like the cops will tell us anything.”

  “Oh, right. Good thinking, Agnes, but I still have my doubts that this is anything like a crime.”

  We quietly crept out of the car and I led the way into the woods. There was no trail here, only dense forest that didn’t clear up until we were surrounded by white pines where needles covered the ground beneath the trees. I didn’t have to look down to know our pant legs were covered with burs, because I could feel the prickliness where they had poked through my thin pants.

  The closer we came to the edge of the woods, the more I listened intently for any voices that might carry over to us. I glanced down and there was an area where footprints were visible in the dirt.

  Eleanor stooped down and picked something up, s
howing it to me: three spent metal gun cartridges. I moved the branches of a white pine and saw that directly on the other side was where the car had crashed into a maple tree. Glass was shattered and it would be hard to tell just by looking if the occupant had been shot before they crashed or after.

  I stepped back when I saw Sheriff Peterson approaching from the rear of the car.

  “What do we have here?” Peterson asked.

  “Not sure yet, sheriff, but it looks like the car just plowed into a tree,” Deputy Greenleaf said.

  Beep … beep … beep…

  A fire truck backed up and out came two firefighters, carrying the Jaws of Life with them to the car. In a matter of minutes they went to work and had the passenger’s side door off, pulling the victim free a few minutes later. It was a man, with an apparent injury to his head, but what wasn’t obvious was if the victim had died as a result of the accident, or from a gunshot wound.

  I hid back behind the tree limb again and Eleanor whispered. “What should we do?”

  I sighed. “We have no choice. We have to show the sheriff what we found.”

  I walked out of the tree line and down a grassy slope, waving at the sheriff, who was speaking to an emergency worker. “What are you doing here, Agnes?”

  “I was just in the neighborhood, is all. Did you know Elsie Bradford had a coming home party for us?”

  “Why would I care about a thing like that when I have real work to do?”

  “No need to get testy, Peterson. Do you think this was an accident, or something else?”

  “How would I know? I suppose we’ll have to ask him if he recovers.”

  “He’s dead, sheriff,” an emergency worker informed him.

  “I wonder if he died on impact,” I said. “Do you think it’s possible that the victim was shot and then crashed his car?”

  The emergency worker was stone-faced.

  “Oh, I know you can’t tell me. Privacy and all that. It’s just that we found something very interesting in the woods.”