Mystery at the Fair Page 3

  She slapped the peanut butter on her toast and bit the slice with a vengeance. Jean sipped her tea to wash the peanut butter down. After a deep breath she calmly screwed the lid on the peanut butter jar and put it back in the pantry. I'm exciting. I'm just not twenty. She snorted. No matter, Jean. You've got a great life here. Forget that bastard.

  Jean finished her breakfast, washed up the few things from last night and this morning and headed out the door. She had a fair to put on.

  It was ten thirty when Jean got to the Exhibits building. It was already hot inside. She was beginning to sweat as she opened all the doors, turned on the fans and the lights and readied herself for the day. Exhibitors would start arriving at noon. The Superintendents and their volunteers would be there at eleven or so to get ready. Having been a fair exhibitor herself, Jean understood how important it was to have all of the departments ready to accept the entries, tag them properly and ready them for tomorrow's judging.

  Jean fretted about the ribbons. What if the police don't release the bins? She sipped her iced tea. She dragged the cooler outside, opened the valve and let the water drain out. Back inside she pulled a case of water bottles apart and dropped them in the cooler along with a fresh bag of ice. Just as she took another drink of tea, Karen came in through the middle doors.

  "Ha, I thought you'd be here already."

  "Just finished replenishing the cooler with water. You're here early, too."

  Karen dropped her things on a stand, then tucked them on a shelf hidden by the skirts she'd put up yesterday. "I have two volunteers working with me today that have never worked exhibit submissions. I want to go over everything with them before it gets started." She pulled three copies of fair books and a handful of pens out of her tote and put them on the folding table in front of her. "Any word on the ribbons?"

  "No, I've been fretting and fuming about it all morning. Did anyone have any ideas?"

  "Not a one. I asked everyone while you were out yesterday afternoon. They're a little more than worried."

  "Me, too." Jean wiped the sweat from her temples as she thought about the problem. "I'll call Arris. He's been running the fair for years. Maybe he has some idea." She pulled her cell phone out of her shorts pocket and dialed his number. She was disappointed when it went to voicemail. "Hi, Arris. This is Jean. Can you call me or stop by Exhibits? The cops have our ribbons and I need some advice." She clicked off and sighed. "Hope he gets back to me soon."

  It was twelve thirty and people were lined up in front of tables in every department with items they wanted to show at the fair. Some people had their children's little red wagons full of things, other people had just one or two items. Nervous before noon, Jean was beginning to relax. She could see Karen working her department, looking cool as a cucumber. Everything seemed to be going well. No one had a problem she needed to resolve. She popped open a bottle of water and sat down next to the middle door, out of the sun.

  "Hey, Jean."

  She looked out the door. Arris was walking up. He had on blue jeans, cowboy boots, a work shirt and a dirty cowboy hat.

  "Hey, Arris. Come on in out of the sun." Jean pulled a chair over next to her. "Take a load off. Would you like some water?"

  "Thanks, I think I will sit. And the water sounds good. I just helped my niece get her steer unloaded."

  Jean handed him a new bottle of water. He twisted off the top and drank half the bottle. "Ah, that hits the spot." He put the cap back on the bottle and wiped his wet hands on his jeans. "I saw you called but I didn't listen to the message."

  "Yeah, the cops kept our ribbon bins. I don't have anything for judging tomorrow."

  He pulled a bandana out of his back pocket and wiped his face. "I was questioned yesterday as a person of interest."

  "Oh no, Arris."

  He nodded. "Yep, but I had nothing for them. Ina and I had a quarrel six months ago and she wouldn't return my calls. I figured she went travelling. She was always saying she wanted to travel around the world. I thought that's what happened."

  "Oh no, Arris. But who is Ina?"

  He reset his hat on his head. "That's right, you're new. Ina Grange. We dated for a few months. I've been dodging people all day. Half of them think I did it. The other half, well, I'm not sure if they believe me or are just nervous about the whole thing."

  "I'm so sorry, Arris."

  He tucked the bandana back into his pocket. "No matter. I doubt the cops are going to release the bins in time. I'll call over to the Gila County Fair Board President. They may have ribbons we can use."

  "Oh that would be great." Jean felt a whole load of worry disappear from her shoulders.

  He scuffed his boots on the cement floor, eyes down. "I've got other news."

  "What is it?" Her stomach clenched. This didn't sound good.

  "I'm going to step down as Board President."

  Jean panicked. Leave the fair? All of his experience gone?

  "Just temporarily. Until all of this murder business is sorted out."

  "But who will be in charge?"

  He looked her in the eye. "You."

  Jean could feel her stomach start to roll. "Me? I don't know how to run a fair. I'm new here. I don't know anything about it."

  "The way the board is set up, VP of Exhibits is next in line. That's you."

  She stared for a moment. "But, I don't have the contacts, the knowledge."

  "I'll help. You can call me anytime."

  She stared at him.

  "I just don't think it's right for me to be such a public figure right now, since I'm a suspect in Ina's murder." He sat forward on the folding chair, elbows on knees. "People talk and, well, I think I just need to remove myself from the spotlight for a bit." He turned to look at her. "Temporarily, till I'm cleared."

  She could see his point of view. It had to be very uncomfortable for people to suspect you. "Okay, I'll do my best. But you'll call about the ribbons?"

  "Yeah." He stood up. "I'll call about the ribbons and let you know."

  She stood up. "I don't think you killed anyone, Arris. Neither do the rest of the Superintendents."

  He grimaced and nodded. "Thanks. That's appreciated." He turned to go out the door. "I'll get back to you."

  "Oh, wait!"

  Arris turned halfway out of the door.

  Jean braced herself. "I met Analise last night at Ingram's. She seems to think we're having an affair."

  He rolled his eyes. "She would. She thinks I'm having an affair with every woman over the age of eighteen in the whole county." Arris stepped back into the building. "I apologize. We've been divorced for years but she won't get past it." He took off his cowboy hat and ran his hand through his graying hair.

  "So this isn't something everyone thinks is happening?" Jean swallowed hard.

  "Oh gosh, no. It's just Analise. I'm sorry. Really. She has her own lovers but when she sees me out with someone she gets jealous."

  "I'm sorry to bring it up. It's just…" She shrugged. "It was just embarrassing, accosted in the middle of the deli department and all." She could feel a blush creeping into her cheeks.

  "I'll talk to her next time I see her, Jean. That is embarrassing. It won't do any good though." He sighed. "She'll just think it's true because I'm saying something about it."

  "Don't do that, Arris. If it's not common gossip, I don't care what one person thinks. We know it's not so. Forget it." Jean certainly didn't want the woman's interest piqued.

  "Are you sure?"

  "I am," she nodded. "Forget I said anything. Call your friend then let me know where to go and who to talk to."

  Arris put his hat back on. "Good. I'll do that." He left the building.

  Jean dropped back into the folding chair, her fears about the possible rumors put to rest. She thought about her new position. "Great. Now I'm running the fair." She wiped the sweat off of her forehead with the back of her hand. It was going to be a long week.

  Chapter Nine

  They were
in the middle of the afternoon slow-down. It seemed that most exhibitors either came early or after work. Most of the tables were near deserted, with just a handful of people scattered here and there. Karen came over to where Jean was sitting next to the cooler. "First rush is over."

  "It seemed to go well. I had to referee a question in Canning but other than that, it's been pretty quiet."

  "Shhh," Karen knocked on the wooden stand she was sitting beside. "You don't want to jinx yourself.

  Jean told Karen that Arris had stepped down.

  "Oh no! The poor man. You told him we don't believe he did it, didn't you?"

  "I did. I felt so bad for him. He looked all beaten." Jean looked around the tent and lowered her voice. "Arris told me the victim's name, Ina Granger."

  Karen's eyes bugged as she gasped. "Do you mean Grange?"

  "Yeah. Did you know Ina Grange? Did Arris and Ina have a relationship?"

  "Ina's the body?" Karen sighed. "That's why I didn't see her today."

  "She enters stuff in your department?"

  "Yep. She's a national-award-winning quilter. She's been written up in all the quilt magazines and is known internationally, too. Has gone on speaking tours and everything. Ina has entered something every year I've been the Superintendent and wins the Best of Show most of the time. It's such a shame. I suppose Vera is going to be thrilled this year." Jean was surprised by Karen's dry tone.

  "Vera?"

  Vera MacIlroy, Ina's biggest competitor. Last year when she came in and saw Ina had won Best of Show again she actually spit on the quilt. Everyone that was in the department just stood there slack-jawed as she vented on Ina. It was embarrassing."

  "What did Ina do?"

  "After Vera stormed off she took a tissue out of her pocket and wiped the spit off of the quilt, then went on with her conversation. It was a classy response."

  "I'd say so. Wow. Competition runs stiff in the quilts, I guess."

  "What a shame." Karen shook her head.

  Jean nodded. She wanted to know more about Arris. "What about Arris and Ina?"

  "Oh, yeah. Ina's family didn't approve at all. Arris has a reputation as a ladies' man. She was a widow with a grown son and they were afraid that Arris was after her money. That was silly. Arris came into money himself five years ago. Some relative or other left him a pile. Anyway, his ex-wife made all kinds of scenes whenever she ran into them in public." She sat down on the cooler lid. "Anyway, Analise and Arris have been divorced a good fifteen years. I don't know why she cared one way or the other."

  "Maybe she was embarrassed or was concerned about how their kids felt."

  "Doubt it. They never had kids. I think she was afraid Arris would spend his new money on the women. He didn't start dating Ina until a year ago or so. He actually took it kind of hard when she disappeared. Her family wouldn't talk to him at all."

  "Oh, how sad. And now she's been found and it looks bad for Arris."

  "It does." Karen nodded.

  Jean watched her face. "You don't think he did it, do you?"

  "Gosh no. He was attracted to the ladies but he had no reason to kill her." She looked thoughtfully at Jean for a moment. "Matter of fact, I don't think he's gone out on a date since she disappeared. He used to be a regular at the dances at Morgan's on Saturday nights. I've heard he hasn't been there in a long time."

  "The place on Alpine and the highway? I haven't been to that restaurant yet."

  "That's the one. Anyway, I heard Analise tried to get back with Arris after news got around about his inheritance." She waved her hand in disgust. "Total lack of character, if you ask me. He didn't buy it, of course. Maybe that's why she harassed him and his dates so much. Sad for him and embarrassing for her."

  "What does she do for money?"

  "She runs a food truck, fancy gourmet sandwiches. She's crazy but she can cook. They're delicious." Karen laughed. "She's one of the food vendors at the fair, you know."

  Jean rolled her eyes. "Oh no. She isn't going to cause trouble is she?"

  "No idea. But I heard from Barry—" She turned to Jean. "You know, Barry Cole, the Vendor Manager?"

  "Oh, yeah," Jean nodded. "I haven't talked to him much but I remember him from the meetings."

  "Yeah, well, he said she's a pain in the backside. Never happy with her location, the power, the number of people that stop at her truck, but she comes back every year."

  "Sounds unpleasant."

  "Yep."

  "Glad I don't have to deal with her."

  Karen nodded. "Thank your lucky stars."

  "Arris is going to call Gila County about ribbons for me."

  Karen smoothed the stray tendrils of hair back over her head. "That's awful. About him, I mean, not the ribbons. Hope they can spare some."

  "Me, too."

  John Gonzales walked up to them. "The gable fan at my end of the building has quit."

  Karen stood up. "I'll let you get to it, then."

  Jean stood also. "Let's take a look."

  She and John walked to the east end of the building. The big fan up near the roof line was stock still. "I don't suppose we have a ladder that can get up there so we can see what's wrong?"

  "No." He shook his head. "The tallest ladder in the Conex extends to fifteen feet." He eyed the fan. "That's gotta be twenty-five feet up."

  Jean crossed her arms. "Well, if the only ladder is in the Conex, the cops have it in any case. They took everything." A trickle of sweat started down her temple. "It's already getting hot in here." She looked at him. "I don't suppose you have a ladder that can reach?"

  He scratched his head. "No, but call Arris. He'll get the right people." He stuck his hands in his pockets.

  "I can't. He resigned. The cops have already been to question him and he thought it was too much of a controversy for him to be working the fair."

  "He put you in charge?"

  "Yep. Any ideas?"

  He scratched his face. "Well, Edgar Conbeer does commercial electrical work. And now that I think about it, I think I've seen him here other years working on stuff."

  "Thanks, John. I'll give him a call."

  John turned to go.

  "Oh, can you find some smaller fans? That may help."

  "Yeah, no problem."

  Forty minutes later Jean was standing with Edgar underneath the fan. "Oh yeah," he said as he viewed the area. "Let me go turn the electric off, then I'll come in and figure out what's wrong."

  "Sure. Any estimate of how long this will take?"

  "Not till I get up there. I'll let you know."

  Jean nodded and walked over to John's department. Gems and Minerals was the nearest exhibit. "John, the electrician is going to shut off the power to the building. Can you give Edgar a hand if he needs it? I'll go tell everyone else it's going to be dim."

  "Sure, Jean. Tough first day as the Board President." He wagged an eyebrow at her.

  She laughed. "Kind of. Thanks for helping out."

  He waved and she left to pass the word to the Superintendents. By the time she got back, Edgar had another guy with him and a ladder that reached all the way to the roof. Bags of tools lay on the floor.

  "I'm hoping it's just a broken wire," he told her. "That can be resolved. If the motor is burned out, that fix will take longer."

  "I'm crossing my fingers." She watched Edgar climb the ladder while his guy stood on the floor. She could see the electrician begin the examination at the power cord. She wondered if the fair was covered if he should fall.

  People coming in to drop off exhibits stared. "Sorry it's dark in here," Jean told them. "A small electrical problem, it'll be fixed soon." They nodded and turned to their business. I hope, she thought. Please let it be something easy to fix. It was another fifteen minutes before Edgar called down. He was grinning.

  "It's a crimped wire."

  She breathed a shallow sigh of relief.

  "I'll splice a new piece of wire in and we'll have the power on in just a few."
<
br />   He was as good as his word and ten minutes later. Edgar handed her the bill. "After the fair you'll have to get a real repair but it should hold for the weekend."

  "Thank you, Edgar. I appreciate it."

  He nodded. "Rumor is all over town that the police suspect Arris. I don't believe a word of it. He's not that kind of man."

  "I'll tell him you said that, Edgar. He's feeling a little friendless right now."

  "Yeah, some people will believe anything. You tell him I said hi. Come on by the shop anytime."

  Jean smiled at him. "I'll do that. Thank you again."

  He nodded and left. That was easy enough. She tucked the bill into her binder. Let's hope that's the last big problem this week. But she didn't think she'd get off that easy.

  Chapter Ten

  Nick White was at his desk when Greta Kaufman, his secretary, buzzed his phone. He hit the intercom button. "Yeah."

  "Chief, the Mayor's on line two."

  Nick closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He knew what this call was about. The mayor expected cop-show speed to solve this murder. The man watched too much TV. "I've got it," he said as he eyed the blinking light on the phone. He clicked off the intercom and paused before he punched the button for line two. "Mayor."

  "Nick."

  The Mayor sounded as though he were practicing for the local theater group. Nick knew better. Mayor Ed Paige was a good man; he was friends with a lot of the people in Greyson, that's why he kept getting elected. But the man didn't have a logical bone in his body. The council kept him on track. "What can I do for you, Ed?"

  Nick heard the man sputter on the other end of the line. "I need some answers about Ina's death, Nick. I thought that would be obvious. Her family is calling the office, calling my house. I need to tell them something."

  Nick could feel the heat rise just as the air conditioning fan kicked on in his office. He took a breath. He had known it would be like this when they went to do the family notification and told the press. "It's not TV, Ed. It takes time to examine the body and the evidence."