A Beeline to Murder

Abby left the theater and caught up with Philippe just outside it. They walked in tense silence past the patisserie, with its CLOSED sign on the door.

Philippe started to speak, stopped, and then pulled up short, put his hand on her arm, and looked into her eyes. In a shaky voice, he asked, “Dobbs killed my brother, didn’t he?”

“Hard to say, Philippe,” Abby answered. She tried to sound reassuring. She reminded herself that the man’s dark mood and sudden angry outburst were understandable. His heart was raw. The emotional suffering he had to endure over the loss of his brother could truly be understood only by a professional or someone going through the same thing.

He let go of her arm and walked on.

“According to the police report, Mrs. Dobbs provided an alibi for her husband,” Abby said gently. She caught up with him and walked in lockstep. “Dobbs and your brother argued, yes, but that could be a motive to evict someone, not murder him. Dobbs could simply have chosen not to renew the lease, which is what he was doing. We need to find out the truth. When we have the truth, it will all make sense.” She touched his arm. “I don’t mean to upset you, but I think it might be wise for me to speak to Dobbs alone.”

Philippe’s lips tightened. He exhaled a heavy breath through his nose. He nodded.

Abby hoped his recent outburst had defused the anger. Zach hadn’t made a big deal about the sudden aggression, and he hadn’t threatened to press charges. As they turned the corner, Abby thought Philippe seemed more forlorn and desperate than ever.

Shaking his head, he muttered, “Je suis désolé.”

“No need to apologize, Philippe. Anger comes after shock. It’s the second stage of grief. You just let off a little steam. It’s understandable. You want answers. I do, too.”

He nodded again. “Mind if I smoke?”

“Not if you can do it while we walk.” Abby checked her watch. “I want to question Dobbs and also get over to the jewelry store before it closes, and then I’ve got to get back to the farmette to see what, if any, trouble Sugar might have gotten into while I was gone.” This is where you offer to take the dog, Philippe. You could use some unconditional love. That’s what dogs give. Abby wondered if she should say aloud to Philippe what she was thinking.

“I’ll keep my mouth shut while you talk with Dobbs,” Philippe said.

Abby looked at him curiously. Hadn’t he heard her say she wanted to talk with Dobbs alone? “What say you hang out for a few minutes at Maisey’s, while I do a knock and talk with Dobbs?”

“You think I’ll overreact again?”

“No,” Abby lied. “It’s just that I’ve got a hunch Dobbs will be more likely to open up to me if you—being the dead man’s brother—are not present.”

“Oh, I see. So what is Maisey’s?”

“A fabulous pie shop, owned and run by an equally fabulous person named Miss Maisey Mack.”

Philippe took a long drag from his cigarette and blew the smoke out the side of his mouth, away from Abby. “I cannot think. And these feelings make me crazy.”