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  Full Bloom

  Sally Handley

  A Holly and Ivy Mystery

  Copyright © 2018 Sally Handley

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof

  may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Printed in the United States of America

  Cover Design: www.carolmonahandesign.com

  First Printing, 2018

  DEDICATION

  To

  Lucky

  Amy

  and

  Winston (R.i.p.)

  1 KATE’S PLACE

  “Remember what I told you before we left. I refuse to talk about it.” Holly Donnelly slammed the car door leaving her sister Ivy sitting inside.

  Ivy shook her head, pausing as she reached for the door handle. The two-hour drive from New Jersey to Kate Farmer’s house in the Catskills had been deadly quiet. Since Ivy’s arrival from South Carolina the day before, Holly had simply refused to discuss her break-up with Nick Manelli.

  Ivy sighed and opened the passenger side door. By the time she got out of the car, Holly had opened the back door and Lucky, her border collie, jumped out. A smiling Kate Farmer appeared on the porch of the rambling Victorian house as her dog, Amy, bounded down the steps towards the newly arrived guests. Kate quickly followed, her arms open wide. She hugged Holly first, then Ivy as the dogs ran in frenzied circles around them, jumping up and down, barking wildly.

  “Okay, okay, you guys. Calm down,” Holly said reaching down to pet Amy.

  “Don’t waste your breath.” The petite, olive-skinned Kate laughed, her cropped brown curls glistening in the sun. “This exuberance at the arrival of guests is a biological imperative. Actually, on the inside I’m feeling the same way.” Kate put an arm around each of the sisters and squeezed. “It’s so good to see you guys!”

  “Good to see you, too.” Holly smiled walking back to the car and opening the trunk. Amy and Lucky had calmed down, but the sound of barking continued, coming from the neighbor’s yard.

  “Who’s that? Sounds like a big dog bark,” Ivy said as she reached into the trunk and grabbed her overnight bag.

  “Oh, that’s just Winston, my neighbor Chuck’s golden Lab. He and Amy share neighborhood watch duties. He’ll calm down after we get out of the driveway.”

  “I hope so,” Holly said. “Kate, could you grab my bag. I don’t want to move again once I sit down on that porch. I’ll carry the Michelob.”

  Kate eyed the case of beer and exchanged a quick glance with Ivy who just arched her eyebrows in reply.

  ***************

  “So what’s new in Reddington Manor?” Holly asked after lunch as she dropped into a wicker chair on the side porch and poured beer into a frosted mug.

  Kate’s smile turned grim. “Believe it or not, quite a lot’s been happening. And none of it good.”

  “Really?” Ivy sat forward, a look of alarm on her face.

  “Really. There’s been a rash of burglaries. Some people say it’s drug dealers from Monticello.” Kate frowned. “But a few people suspect Tommy Cranston and his friends.”

  “Cranston?” Holly wrinkled her brow. “Isn’t that your neighbor’s son? The one up the street.”

  “Yeah.” Kate nodded. “But I don’t believe it. Not Tommy.”

  “Do we need to be worried?” Ivy grimaced. “Aren’t you afraid to be here all by yourself?”

  Before Kate could respond, the barking next door resumed. “You hear that? Between Amy and Winston, I never worry. If you think this is loud, you should hear them if anything -- man or beast -- comes near our houses at night. Amy has an absolutely blood-curdling yowl she lets loose, and if Winston isn’t already barking, she sets him off. That’s when I relax and know I have nothing to worry about.”

  Holly laughed as she took another swallow of beer, but Ivy looked confused. “What do you mean?” she asked.

  “Well, Chuck has what amounts to a small arsenal over there.” Kate tilted her head in the direction of the ramshackle house next door.

  “Oh.” Ivy sat back, appearing a bit relieved.

  “Yeah, I’d be more worried Chuck might accidentally start a fire and the whole place would explode like a powder keg.” Holly chortled.

  “Great.” Ivy closed her eyes and shook her head.

  “Stop scaring your sister. Let’s change the topic to something more interesting,” Kate said moving to the edge of her chair, focusing a penetrating stare at Holly. “Why did you and Nick break up, and what are you going to do to get him back is what I want to talk about.”

  Holly glared at her. “I told my sister before she got out of the car, and I’m going to tell you this only once. I have no intention of talking about it. We split up. End of story.” She lifted the mug to her lips and finished what was left of her beer.

  “Oh, come on!” Kate sat up straight and put her hands on her hips. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

  “No, I’m not.” Holly stood up, grabbed her mug and the empty beer can and went inside the kitchen.

  Kate looked at Ivy. “She’s kidding, right?”

  “No, I’m afraid not.” Ivy shrugged. “She absolutely refuses to discuss it.” Moving next to Kate on the wicker love seat, she whispered, “You know, I was ecstatic in January when she called to tell me Nick proposed.”

  “They seemed so happy and so perfect for each other.” Kate shook her head, a perplexed look on her face. “Nick seemed like such a genuinely decent guy.”

  "I agree. I think the problem is Nick is as strong and sure of himself as she is.”

  Kate let out a sigh. “But that’s why I thought, at 55, she’d finally met her match.”

  “Me, too.”

  “Shh. Here she comes.”

  Holly returned to the porch, another frosted mug and beer in hand. Dropping onto the cushioned chaise facing her friend and her sister, she smiled and said, “Lovely weather we’re having, isn’t it?”

  “Holly!” Kate squealed, pounding the arm of the loveseat in exasperation.

  “I’m sorry. I’m sure we can find plenty more interesting things to talk about.” Slowly she poured the beer into the mug and the three women watched as the frothy head rose, stopping exactly at the top edge of the glass.

  “This is going to be a mighty dull weekend if all we have to do is watch you pour beer into your glass,” Kate muttered.

  Holly grinned as she raised the mug in a toast. “Here’s to a mighty dull weekend.”

  Before she could lower her glass, a loud and mournful howl pierced the air, causing her to spill some of the beer. Amy began barking and Lucky pointed her nose skyward and howled in reply.

  “Lucky’s never done that before,” Holly said putting her mug down on the side table.

  Kate stood up and looked toward her neighbor’s house. “You know, Chuck’s truck is in the driveway. He’s usually gone to work before I get up, but I was so busy getting ready for your arrival, I didn’t think anything of it.” She started down the steps. “That dog’s been barking off and on all morning. I wonder if something’s wrong.” She descended the steps and the dogs ran ahead in the direction of the howls. Holly followed.

  “Wait.” Ivy remained standing on the porch. “Why don’t you call him first?”

  Kate looked back and shook her head. “No. I’ll just check on the dog.”

  Ivy sighed as she watched Kate, Holly and the two dogs disappear behind the stand of shrubs that partially separated the properties. After a moment she slowly walked down the steps and followed. The howling and barking stopped before she reached the shrubs.

  Looking to her left, she saw Kate opening the gate of a huge
dog pen at the far end of the property. Ivy laughed as a large yellow Lab jumped up putting its paws on Kate’s shoulders, nearly knocking her over.

  Turning towards the house, Ivy noticed the back door was ajar. She hoped Chuck wasn’t loading his gun in response to the commotion in his backyard.

  Cautiously, she approached the back stoop and stopped a few feet shy of the partially open screen door. “Hello.” When no one answered, she repeated more loudly. “Hello. Anyone home?” Still no answer. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Kate was filling a water bowl from a hose and Holly was laughing as the three dogs cavorted on the grass.

  Ivy turned and stepped on the cinderblock that served as a step to Chuck’s back stoop. Again, she said, “Hello,” as she leaned over and peered through the window. Oh, no, no, no.

  On the floor a man was lying on his side. She felt an adrenalin rush as her nursing instincts kicked in. Pulling the screen door wide open she stepped inside. That’s when she saw the meat cleaver in his chest. Dried blood surrounded the wound, darkening the red shirt he wore. A pool of blood trailed from the body under the refrigerator. Ivy’s hand trembled as she felt for a pulse. Nothing.

  Standing up, she turned and went back outside. Holly and Kate were headed towards her, laughing as Lucky rolled under Winston and knocked Amy off her feet.

  “The poor thing was thirsty,” Kate said. “He must have knocked over…” She stopped as soon as she saw Ivy’s ashen face.

  Holly ran to her sister. “What’s wrong?”

  Ivy sank down on the edge of the stoop. “It’s not going to be a dull weekend.”

  2 SHERIFF CYRUS BASCOM

  Kate sank onto the wicker loveseat and buried her face in her hands. Ivy gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze and Holly offered her the tissue box.

  “ I -- I can’t believe it.” Kate grabbed a tissue, dabbed at her eyes and blew her nose. “Maybe if I’d checked on him this morning…”

  “Stop,” Holly said dropping down on the loveseat beside her friend. “Don’t even start thinking that way.”

  “That’s right.” Ivy nodded. “Judging by the wound and the amount of dried blood, I’d say Chuck was dead hours before you even woke up this morning.”

  Kate grabbed another tissue, shaking her head. “How could this have happened and I didn’t hear a thing?”

  Holly shrugged and looked across the yard to the house next door. Several State Police vehicles as well as the local sheriff’s car filled the driveway and spilled onto the lawn. “Two policemen are headed this way,” she said.

  Kate followed Holly’s gaze. “Oh, great. It’s Sheriff Bascom and his deputy. He’s the last person I want to talk to.”

  Before Holly could ask why, Amy and Winston sat up and began barking as Lucky issued a low growl.

  Holly grabbed Lucky’s collar. “Ivy, help me get these dogs inside, please.”

  Ivy jumped up and got hold of Amy and the sisters guided the dogs in through the kitchen door. They continued barking as Holly closed the door and she and Ivy returned to their positions on either side of Kate. All three watched as the middle-aged sheriff and a much younger deputy arrived at the foot of the porch steps.

  The younger man remained standing in the yard as the paunchy sheriff swaggered up the steps, an air of self-importance accompanying him. He removed his hat revealing a glistening crewcut that, except for some graying patches, was probably the same look he sported in his high school yearbook picture.

  “Ms. Farmer. Ladies. I’d like to ask you a few questions.”

  Kate sighed. “We already gave a statement to the State Police, Sheriff.”

  Bascom paused, twisting his mouth to one side. After a moment, he smiled and said, “Yes, I know, Ms. Farmer. Due to their superior forensics capabilities, the State Police will be assisting me in this investigation, but…”

  “Assisting you?” Kate’s expression registered disbelief.

  The smile disappeared from Bascom’s face and Holly noticed the deputy, who hadn’t moved from his sentry post at the bottom of the steps, lowered his head slightly. She glanced back at the Sheriff whose expression had transformed into a malevolent glare.

  “Yes, Ma’am. I’m still the Sheriff here in Reddington Manor and I have some questions the State Police didn’t ask you.”

  Placing her hand on Kate’s forearm, Holly glanced at Ivy who again gently squeezed Kate’s shoulder. Kate sank back into the chair cushions. “Okay. What do you want to know?”

  Bascom sniffed. “Did you see Tommy Cranston anywhere near Chuck’s house yesterday?”

  “Tommy? No. Why would you even ask me that?” Kate glowered back at her questioner.

  “Well,” the Sheriff drew the word out slowly. “You said you didn’t hear anything during the night. Judging by the ruckus those dogs made when we headed over here, I think you would’ve heard something if a stranger came to the house last night.” Smirking, he said. “I know Tommy sometimes took care of Chuck’s animals.”

  Kate tried to sit forward, but Holly increased the pressure on her forearm. Glancing at Holly, she took a deep breath and replied, “No, Sheriff, I didn’t see Tommy anywhere near Chuck’s house yesterday.”

  “You’re sure?”

  Kate tensed and again tried to move forward. This time Ivy’s hand on her shoulder stopped her. Stretching her neck forward, she raised her chin. “I’m sure.”

  The Sheriff’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Kate. “Okay,” he said, nodding as he looked down at the hat he slowly rotated in his hands. Looking back up, a grin returned to his face as he looked from Ivy to Holly.

  “Ladies, pardon my manners. I’m Sheriff Bascom.” He extended his hand to Ivy first, then Holly. “Are you twins?”

  Holly stifled the urge to roll her eyes. “No. Just sisters.”

  “The resemblance is remarkable. Holly and Ivy Donnelly, right?” he asked. “Nice names.”

  “Why thank you, Sheriff,” Ivy replied, tilting her head slightly. “Our mother was an avid gardener.”

  “My mother loved to garden, too.” The Sheriff’s grin broadened. “I’m very sorry we have to meet under these circumstances, but I’d still like to welcome you to Reddington Manor.”

  “Thank you,” Holly said appearing amused at the shift in the Sheriff’s demeanor from Bad Cop to Mr. Welcome Wagon in response to Ivy’s Southern Belle charm.

  “The State Troopers told me you arrived from New Jersey today. What a pity this happened on your first day in our town. Will you be here long?”

  “Depends on the weather,” Holly replied.

  “Is that right?” Bascom again looked down and shook his head. When he looked back up, he wore a pained expression on his face. “Well, I certainly wouldn’t want anything to happen to you,” he said looking from Holly to Kate. Turning to Ivy his expression softened. “But you don’t have to worry about a thing. I’ll have increased patrols up and down this street until we catch this killer, which I don’t think will take long. You see anything suspicious, you call me.”

  Returning his hat to his head, Bascom headed down the steps, chuckling as he said, “I know Ms. Farmer has the number.”

  3 THREES

  “I hate him!” Kate pounded both fists on the kitchen island counter, causing the dogs to scatter

  Holly sighed. “Okay, calm down. And lower your voice -- unless you want us to close all the windows and doors.”

  Kate pursed her lips and headed into the living room. She sank onto her recliner as Holly and Ivy sat down on the couch. The dogs stood watching and once the women appeared settled, they each found a spot on the floor.

  “Okay,” Holly began. “Besides the fact that Sheriff Bascom is a pompous, good ole boy, why do you hate him?”

  “First of all, did you see how he asked me about Tommy? He’s already decided Tommy did this. The only investigating he’s going to do is looking for evidence that points to him.”

  “Why did he laugh when he said you had his number?” Ivy asked.

/>   Kate grimaced, then looked down at her hands folded in her lap. “Over the years, I may have made a call or two to the Sheriff’s office.”

  Holly exchanged a look with Ivy. “Give us a for instance.”

  “Well,” Kate sighed and paused. After a moment, she looked up. “Last month I called him a few times about what’s been going on next door.”

  “Out with it, Kate,” Holly said.

  “I don’t think you ever met my neighbor, Milly Leggett. She’s a lovely woman and has been a great neighbor. About two months ago she had a bad fall down her basement steps. She’s only seventy-five, but she had to have a hip replacement followed by weeks of therapy.”

  “A lot of seniors don’t survive long after they break a hip,” Ivy said. “Any word on whether or not she’s coming home?”

  “That’s just it. I don’t know. Last month her son Boyd showed up one day. When I asked him, he said she’s still at a rehab facility.” Kate frowned. “That’s when he started coming around every weekend with a bunch of low-lifes in tow.” Moving to the edge of her chair, she said, “The electricity and water are turned off, so they were outside all Saturday and Sunday. And when they weren’t drinking and blasting music, they were burning toxic-smelling stuff in the back yard.”

  “And so you called the Sheriff about them,” Holly concluded.

  “Yes, and he did nothing but come over here and tell me how men sometimes just need to blow off steam and that burning trash isn’t against the law in Reddington Manor.”

  Ivy scratched her head. “This Sheriff doesn’t seem to like ‘low-lifes’. Why do you think he didn’t do anything about the neighbor’s son?”

  “I can only guess it’s because I’m still considered an outsider here compared to the Leggetts.” Kate replied. “You know most people still call this place the Molly Goldstein House. She’s the woman I bought it from twenty years ago.”