Part 21 (1/2)

Robert ”Ace” McNally. Francesca's boyfriend. The same boyfriend that Detective Wurkowski mentioned Francesca wrote about in her journal. The same boyfriend she told her aunt Vivian that she had fought with. Was he also the person she had to meet with the night I saw her at H&K's? And did Robert McNally kill her? Everything was getting more complicated. But, let's say Robert McNally killed Francesca, why would he also kill Mark? And, if it was him, would he kill again?

Chapter Twenty-Eight.

Francesca's memorial was in four hours. And now I needed to write a eulogy and find the killer. Time was running out.

The underlying grief I felt for both Francesca and Mark was so tremendous that it filled me with a profound heaviness throughout my entire body. It could have crushed me. Instead of letting my sorrow take over I replaced it with absolute determination. No matter what, I would find their killer. If my hunches were right, the killer was McNally. Although Jacob was not completely off of my suspect list, yet.

What I needed was help. Although I wanted to go it alone, maybe it was not the best way to proceed. I needed help, another set of eyes and ears on the case. Who could I trust? Ken was out of the picture.

Estelle and Hazel had their hands full as it was with SOS. Lucas was swamped at the newspaper, plus it might not be good to have someone from the newspaper involved before he needed to be. Samuel had too much going on taking over Mark's job on the mail boat and with the funeral home.

As much as I felt that I needed to stay away from Jacob, maybe he was someone who could a.s.sist me. That is, if he could be cleared of murder. On his deathbed, Mark said 'not Jacob,' but on the other hand, Jacob did fall for my bait at the pavilion. Only one way to find out.

I scrolled through the list of received calls in my cell. I found Jacob's and hit the call b.u.t.ton. He picked up on the first ring. I no idea of what to lead with so I just said, ”Hey.”

”Well hi, you've been impossible to get a hold of,” Jacob said.

”Yeah, I've had my phone off a lot today. Listen, can I ask you a question?” I asked.

”Sure, what's up,” he said.

”Where were you last night between the hours of eight and eleven?” I asked.

”Are you a parole officer?” he said.

”Jeez, do you have one?” I was stunned.

”No,” he chuckled. ”You're so easy to rattle.”

”So where did you say you were last night?” I asked.

”I feel like you're already my girlfriend, checking up on me. If you really need to know, a few guys and I were having dinner at H&K's,” he said.

”You were? Why?”

”We were hungry,” he said.

”No. I didn't mean why. Of course you go to a restaurant to eat. This sounds so nosy, but I promise in time I'll let you know. How long were you there?” I asked.

”Listen I don't mind. I have nothing to hide. I think we met up at eight thirty or so. We're working on forming our own construction company. Trying to iron out a business plan over dinner and drinks,” he said.

”When did you leave?” I asked.

”You know I was home at one a.m., remember you came over?”

”Um yes,” I got distracted thinking about our romp. Then I continued, ”How long were you with your business partners?”

”I guess until eleven or so. Actually eleven thirty. That's right, because the band announced that anyone who wanted a request to get them in because they were wrapping up at midnight,” he said. ”They were still playing when we left.”

”Okay,” I said. I knew I had to go and check out his alibi.

”Have you switched jobs?” he asked.

”No. Why do you ask?” I asked.

”I'm feeling a little interrogated, and was wondering if you were in law enforcement now.”

”Sorry. It's very complicated, with Francesca and Mark's death, and Estelle's home. I'm trying my best to help everyone out. I'm sort of forming my own amateur detective agency. Actually it's a one woman show right now,” I said.

”Let me know if I can join your posse,” Jacob said. ”Are you sure you're okay?”

”I will be. Thanks for your help. I really do promise this will all make sense once I check on a few things,” I said before we clicked off.

As soon as I hung up with Jacob I called H&K's to substantiate Jacobs's story. The regular night waitress remembered seeing him and a few guys for the better part of the evening.

Therefore, I could pretty safely a.s.sume he did not kill Mark. I guess he could be trusted.

I called Jacob to let him know he could join my posse of one. He agreed to meet with me at Estelle's house in a half-hour.

When I got back home and before Jacob showed up, I looked through the list of SOS members. Hazel was president, Estelle was vice president. Mark was treasurer, the next door neighbor was listed as secretary. Francesca had signed the pet.i.tion. It seemed that SOS connected Mark and Francesca. Did that a.s.sociation ultimately cause their deaths?

One scenario was that Robert McNally and Francesca were lovers. Something happened. Then she got angry over it and decided to get back at him. She joined SOS. McNally, reacted by killing her. And my next hunch was a bit fuzzy. Then McNally decided to kill Mark too because he was also involved in SOS. Maybe Francesca and Mark knew something that could potentially damage McNally.

What should I do next?

The door bell rang.

I opened the door and my eyes fell upon Jacob, who wore blue jeans, a white t-s.h.i.+rt and sandals. I said, ”Thanks for coming.”

”No problem.” Jacob stepped inside.

We walked back to the kitchen. I poured two ice teas and set them next to Estelle's cookies. She always had a tray of cookies set out. Before I could stop him, he reached for a cookie and then took a bite. He grimaced then took a huge gulp of tea.

I pulled the tray away. ”I'm so very sorry. They're just for show. Here, have one of these. It's better for you,” I handed him a banana from a nearby fruit bowl.

”No thanks.” His mouth puckered, and then he grimaced. ”No offense, but those cookies are horrible.”

”Estelle makes them for people to eat, but they make better decorations,” I said. ”You've got to love someone with her determination. Like right now she is in the Save Our Streets group. You've heard about the eminent domain and the hospital? Well there is just so much happening. And then the deaths of Francesca and Mark, and I just don't know how to explain myself and how I've been acting.”

I looked out the kitchen window.