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“What about the packages? And the dating sites?”

“That wasn’t me.”

“Or the blackmail?” asked Odelia.

The young man looked up.“What blackmail?”

“Jay received a letter trying to blackmail him.” She produced a picture of the letter on her phone.

Bronson read it and shook his head.“‘I know what you did?’ I don’t even know what that means.”

“So you didn’t send this letter?”

“No, of course not. All I did was the burning bag, that’s all. I didn’t send any packages, or sign Jay up for any dating sites, or send him this letter. And I most definitely did not murder him or Dylon.”

“Okay, Bronson, tell us where you were last night, and the night before.”

Bronson claimed that he was Skyping with his mom on both nights, which was admirable, of course. And since his mom lived in Alaska, not something that was all that easy to verify. He didn’t strike me as a killer, though, and he was a lousy liar, as his sweaty and flushed face could attest. Then again, he did have an excellent motive for killing both men.

The moment Bronson was back up on his scaffolding, slaving away on his big assignment, Charlene returned to have a chat with us.

“I really hope you clear up this murder business soon,” she confessed. “We’re being bombarded with complaints by angry citizens from the Cobblestone Committee. Now they’re accusing the town of gross negligence, and somehow have made the assumption that we had something to do with these murders.”

“How do they figure that?” asked Odelia.

“I have no idea! But since they got wind of the fact that both men were probably murdered with cobblestones, it’s more grist to the mill for these people.”

“Are you going to drop the cobblestone and go with asphalt?” asked Chase.

“You don’t understand,” said Charlene. “It was the neighborhood who asked us to redo the street with cobblestone. They wanted to create a more upscale feel, and discourage traffic from passing through their street. But once they realized that cobblestones are noisy, they changed their minds, and now a majority is against the plans. But we can’t pivot like that. The budget was approved, plans were made, a contractor selected, materials bought and paid for, so abandoning the project would cost us a lot of money—would cost the community a lot of money.” She sighed. “It’s not always fun to be mayor, let me tell you.” But then another person showed up to show their work, and we said our goodbyes.

From what I could tell, it was yet another portrait of a familiar doctor…

CHAPTER 33

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“Tex is really popular, isn’t he, Max?” said Dooley.

“Yes, and becoming more popular by the hour,” I said.

“Three people have already entered his portrait for the art grant. So he’ll probably be chosen, and then he really will be all over town.”

“I very much doubt that Charlene will enter him into the competition,” I said. “These art installations will represent Hampton Cove, and it probably wouldn’t give a good impression if the first thing tourists see is a painting of a nude doctor.”

“He’s not entirely nude, though, Max. He was wearing his boxers.”

“Thank God for small favors.”

We were back in Uncle Alec’s office, where Odelia and Chase were required to report to the Chief about any recent developments in their joint investigation.

“Okay, so at least the paper bag business has been cleared up,” said the Chief, leaning back, and causing his office chair to creak under his sizable bulk. “And I’ve got a piece of news for you. The tech department has managed to discover the identity of the person responsible for creating those fake dating site profiles and also for the fake profiles ordering a ton of stuff online.” He drummed his fingertips on his desk for effect. “And the name they came up with is Bud Zuk.”

“So Jay was right,” said Odelia. “The first time he and Laia came into the office he told me he thought her ex-boyfriend might be behind this, and he was.”

“Which doesn’t mean he’s also our killer,” Chase was quick to point out.

“No, but it certainly makes him a pretty good suspect in my view,” said the Chief. “And one other important development: uniform talked to a witness at the scene on Tucker Street, who said she saw a woman hanging around Jay and Laia’s building around the time that blackmail letter arrived.” He arched his eyebrows meaningfully, and I could tell that he loved this part of his job. When the pieces of the puzzle finally started to fall into place.

“Spit it out, Chief,” Chase growled, impatient.

“Laney Basula.”

“Dylon’s girlfriend?”

“One and the same. So I suggest,” he said, leaning in and placing his beefy arms on his blotter, “that you have another little chat with both Mr. Zuk and Miss Basula. And this time make sure they tell you the truth.”

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