Chapter 5
When Seth and Jessica went to the Sheriff's office, they immediately spotted Mort and Andy sitting at their respective desks. Each was deeply involve on their typewriters, tediously typing, using the 'hunt and peck' method.
"Arrrghhhh!"
Mort gave a frustrated grunt as he ripped the sheet of paper out of the typewriter and stared at it in disgust.
Jessica stepped up to him, with Seth close behind.
"Good day, Sheriff," Jessica smiled.
Mort immediately looked up, "Oh, hey, Mrs. F, Doc," he greeted.
"Somebody doesn't look happy today," Seth mentioned.
"Oh, I'm just on happiness-saving-mode," Mort jested. Then he added, "actually, I'm frustrated. Not much has been happening in Cabot Cove these last few days, so I'm forcing myself to type up these required reports and having a heck of a time trying to make them sound official!"
"Why is it so difficult, Sheriff?" Jessica asked with a tilt of her head.
"Get a load of this," Mort said, reading outloud the paper he had in his hand, "Sarah Brimsley on Hummingbird Lane called in a theft at her residence. She complained that someone must have stolen her mail last Friday. This was due to the fact that she had not received birthday cards from some of her friends."
Mort gave Seth and Jessica a give-me-a-break look.
Mort continued, "And it only gets worse. Here's my next report: ."Sheriff's office received an anonymous call that reported crazed duck were seen running around Joshua Peabody Park at 10:32 am on Tuesday. Sheriff responded and searched area, only to find relaxed ducks."
Seth made a noise that sounded between a guffaw and a snicker.
"My experience is that ducks are audaciously mellow," he straight-faced while Jessica grinned.
From across the way on his typewriter, Andy added to the conversation.
"You think those are bad, Sheriff?" he questioned, "How about the car incidents I had to type up?"
Andy grabbed the top sheet from his pile and read, When Deputy Andy Broom questioned Laura Penn as to how the car accident happened, Ms. Penn informed the deputy that someone had switched her car's engine with an identical engine that did not work. So far in the investigation, there are no leads."
Both Seth and Jessica chuckled.
"I wouldn't complain so much, Andy," Mort whined, "at least you don't have to deal with Mrs. Tremblay like I did this morning."
"Not again," groaned Andy, "what problem did she complain about this time?"
"She called to report that she spotted a kitten outside her house," Mort explained, putting air quotes around the last two words, "that was acting suspicious."
Jessica laughed.
"Oh my," she said, shaking her head, "I guess it's true what they say about nothing much happens in a small town!"
"The way I see a small town," Seth grumbled, "is that in case you don't know what you're doin', someone else in town does, and is more than happy to tell you what it is!"
Mort smiled, "Speaking of such, how are you two doing? Gone on your first date yet?"
Seth and Jessica exchanged embarrassed glances.
"Et tu, Mort?" Seth asked.
"Hey, it seems that you and Mrs. F's dating life is the only thing people here are talking about these last few days," Mort shrugged, "that and the suspicious kitty, that is!"
"Actually, Mort, we've hadn't had much chance for a social life lately," Jessica admitted.
"Oh, I understand," Mort acknowledged, "I suppose you're referring to Bert Bradley's death."
"You mean his murder!" Seth corrected, as he dropped the results of Bert Bradley's autopsy on Mort's desk.
Mort leaned over, gave a quick glance, and saw what the file was about.
"The autopsy results? Why are you giving me this?" he asked, "Shouldn't you be handing it to the investigating officer, Detective McIntosh?"
"Yes, I should... if I wanted the investigation to get screwed up!" Seth claimed, "but I want to do right by my friend! He deserves justice!"
Mort shook his head, "I don't know what I can do about it, Doc."
"If you could just come with us to Bert's house," suggested Jessica, "it would make it look official when we talk with Bert's daughter, Beth. Perhaps she might be more forthcoming."
"Jess also wants to ascertain whether or not the poison had been administered there or was it somewhere else," Seth further explained.
Mort still looked unsure, "You do understand that my being there would not make it official business, right? Bert lived and retired in Bar Harbor, and the murder took place there, too. It's not in my jurisdiction, and therefore, not my case."
"Well, it's none of mine and Jess's business, either," Seth added, "but we want to know the truth! After all, Mort, do you really want to trust Logan, along with his smugness, to solve the murder for us?"
Mort gave a heavy sigh.
"I suppose, you're right," he decided.
Andy interjected, "or, Sheriff, you can always stay here and deal with..." he pulled the next report, "...Bob Henley, who discovered patio furniture on top of his car..."
Mort stood and placed his hat on his head.
"I'm ready; let's head out!" he announced quickly, "Meanwhile Andy, you can hold down the fort here."
"I will, Sheriff," Andy promised, "you never know when I might come across nefarious puppies!"
#
Bert Bradley's house was like every other well-to-do Bar Harbor home. It looked much like the houses in Cabot Cove, based on the simple Colonial American architecture, which blended into its natural surroundings. Painted a lovely dove gray, his residence consisted of a long porch, balconies and large windows, which evoked a charming yet solitude lifestyle.
Mort walked up the pathway ahead of Seth and Jessica. It was here that Seth grabbed Jessica's hand as they strolled up the walk.
Ahhh, the uniqueness of love in its early stages! Jessica thought. She felt a secret thrill as they lovingly exchanged glances. There was something so real about her hand being enveloped around his; some kind of complex simplicity to it. It was saying so much by doing so little and she loved it.
Of course, Mort didn't see it that way.
"Could you two hurry it up a bit?" he asked, "I'm beginning to feel like the third wheel!"
"Why don't you think of yourself as a majestic unicycle instead then!" Seth suggested, not hurrying his pace in the slightest as Jessica felt him lovingly squeeze her hand.
Mort shook his head as he knocked on the door.
#
Although she was from Boston, Beth Bradley had been staying at the family home. Mort had explained earlier that after the interrupted funeral, she was taken directly to the hospital and given blood and urine tests for heavy metals but there was not a trace. She would only be staying at Bert's home until his finances had been settled, being that she was a paralegal for a firm that deals with criminal law in New York City.
She did not look happy when she opened the door to Jessica, Seth and Mort.
"Yes? What do you want?" she asked blandly.
Mort removed his hat.
Seth followed suit by removing his driving cap as well.
"Good day, Ms. Bradley," Mort greeted, "I'm sorry to bother you at a time like this, but as you know, we suspect that your father had been poisoned and we now hope we can discover where this tragedy has occurred. And of course, this would then lead us to a suspect."
She did not look welcoming.
"You're too late," she tiredly told them, "Forensics have already been here."
Beth was ready to close the door until Jessica stepped forward.
"Please, Ms. Bradley," she pleaded, "I can understand that you must be tired of people traipsing all over your father's residence. But perhaps with a different outlook we might be able to find something the experts couldn't."
Seth added, "...and if anyone could find a clue in a haystack, it'll be J.B. Fletcher!"
"J. B. Fletcher?" Beth opened the door slightly wider as she got a good look at Jessica, "You're the writer, aren't you?"
"I am," Jessica acknowledged without embellishment.
A little smile broke out from Beth and she sounded more welcoming.
"I applaud your talent at solving mysteries, Mrs. Fletcher," she told Jessica. Then looking at Seth, she added, "and with your expertise, Uncle Seth, you were the one who revealed my father had been murdered," and finally she gave a nod to Mort, "and Mort, I know you will make sure nothing in this house will be disturbed."
"I will," he promised.
She opened the door all the way to allow them in.
The three of them gave their thanks and walked in. The house had obviously not changed much since her father had died. There was evidence of Bert Bradley having lived there, from the pipe next to his comfy chair, to his jacket and hat still hanging on the rack next to the door.
It wasn't too long before they heard footsteps coming towards them from the kitchen and a not so pleasant voice booming out over at them.
"WHAT ARE YOU THREE DOING HERE?" Detective Logan McIntosh demanded to know.
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