Part Four

Author’s note:

If you missed Part Three, here’s an update. Amanda Woodward has been murdered, Jim is in the hospital with a mild head injury, and the NYPD has begun their investigation.

This story is a submission for the Special Edition Anniversary #10 CWP, celebrating ten wonderful years of Jixemitri. All elements in this CWP have been written in red font so you can’t miss them. Be sure to look for the elements throughout the rest of this story.

10:00 A.M.

Making death notifications was undoubtedly the worst part of a homicide detective’s job description. No matter how much practice one had, delivering the tragic news never got any easier. It was particularly difficult when the deceased had been cut down while in the prime of his or her life, and such was the case for the rich, beautiful socialite, Amanda Woodward.

Carlton and Natasha Woodward had been devastated to learn that their only child had been murdered. Their initial reaction had been denial, which was typical in these situations.

“Surely this is a mistake,” Carlton insisted. “Nobody would want to hurt our Amanda.”

Natasha nodded in affirmation. “My husband’s correct, detectives. Amanda is such a lovely girl. Everyone simply adores her. I’m sure there’s some sort of a mix-up. Perhaps her identification was stolen—”

“I’m sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Woodward, but there hasn’t been a mistake,” Charlie said gently.

“No.” Natasha gave her head a vigorous shake. “We just spoke to her on the phone earlier this morning. It can’t be her; it can’t!”

“She was positively IDed by a police officer—” Bennie began.

“It isn’t our daughter,” Carlton interrupted, his tone authoritative.

Charlie reluctantly pulled a photograph taken at the crime scene that featured a close-up shot of the victim. “Are you positive that this isn’t Amanda?”

A quick look at the picture affirmed that this was one nightmare from which the Woodwards would never awaken.

“My precious Amanda,” Natasha sobbed, swaying back and forth from the shock. “Who could do this to you? My baby…My poor, poor baby…”

Her husband had turned as green as the silk tie he was wearing. For a few minutes, Charlie worried that Carlton Woodward was going to puke all over his own fancy $2,000 suit. If that happened, Charlie just hoped that he would be able to jump out of the way in time. His own suit had only cost him $150 (which was actually a lot on a cop’s salary), but it was his favorite.

It had taken several minutes before Amanda’s mother and father regained their composure well enough to answer the detectives’ questions. The officers waited patiently until the grieving parents had calmed down a bit.

“When was the last time you spoke to you daughter?” Charlie asked.

“This morning,” Natasha said in between sniffles. “A little before seven, I believe.”

Carlton nodded in agreement. “Yes, that’s when it was. I was on the phone making some travel arrangements for a business meeting later today when Amanda called. She usually touches base with her mother and me at least once or twice a day, but she rarely calls us this early.”

“Was there any particular reason she phoned you when she did?” Bennie prompted.

Natasha dabbed her eyes with a tissue. “She wanted to tell us that she had an important appointment with her wedding coordinator.”

Charlie’s brow furrowed with curiosity. “Did she tell you what that appointment was about?”

“No, but she didn’t have a chance.” Carlton lowered his gaze guiltily. “I was getting ready to fly to Seattle this afternoon, and I needed to make a few more calls to prepare for the trip, so she told us she’d call us back later. I-I had no idea it would be the last time we spoke to her. If I’d only known…” He covered his face with his hand, but his shaking shoulders made it obvious that he was sobbing. His wife, tears rolling down her own cheeks, reached over and clutched his arm to offer her support.

Bennie waited a few minutes for the crying to subside before he asked another question. “Did Amanda visit the bridal shop frequently?”

“Yes, she did,” Natasha answered. “She was very excited about the upcoming wedding. All she could talk about was walking down the aisle on her father’s arm…” Her voice trailed off as a fresh round of tears started falling.

“Mr. and Mrs. Woodward,” Bennie began, “did your daughter have any enemies?”

“Of course not!” Carlton insisted, brushing the tears away from his unlined face. “My little girl was well respected and loved by all who knew her. She was the most kind, generous person you could ever meet.”

“I’m sure that’s true,” Charlie said. “What do you know about your daughter’s fiancé?”

Carlton drew back in surprise. “Jim Frayne?”

Charlie nodded at him.

“Surely you don’t suspect Jim?” Carlton’s intonation made it more of a question than a statement.

“Sir, we don’t have any suspects at this time, but it is procedure to investigate anyone who might be involved with the victim,” Charlie explained. “What can you tell us about him?”

“He’s the owner and administrator of Ten Acres Academy,” Carlton told them. “It’s a private school for disadvantaged children. I’m on the board of directors, as well as a trustee.”

“I’ve heard of it,” Bennie said.

“Jim also has an important position with Wheeler Enterprises,” Carlton added. “In case you aren’t aware, he’s Matthew Wheeler’s adopted son.”

“How was Jim and Amanda’s relationship?” Bennie asked, not even slightly impressed with Jim Frayne’s pedigree.

“What kind of a question is that?” Carlton bellowed. “They were going to be married, weren’t they?”

Natasha placed a calming hand on her husband’s shoulder. “Dear, they’re just doing their job.” She managed a tremulous smile. “To answer your question, Amanda and Jim were blissfully happy. They couldn’t wait to be married. Amanda would’ve been such a beautiful bride…Her dress was almost finished…” The tears that she’d been holding back found their way to the surface again.

Carlton picked up right where Natasha left off. “My wife is right. Amanda and Jim didn’t have any problems, and they were both very excited to begin their lives together. Now, if you don’t have any further questions, Natasha and I need to notify our family and friends. I would hate for them to find out about this through the media.”

Having picked up on Carlton’s defensive tone, Charlie exchanged a knowing glance with his partner. “That will be all for now, Mr. and Mrs. Woodward. I know this has been hard on you, but we appreciate your patience. Please accept our condolences. We truly are sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you,” Carlton murmured gruffly.

“Yes, thank you.” Natasha clasped the aged detective’s hand before he could walk away. “And detectives? Please find out who killed our baby girl.”

“The NYPD will do our best,” Charlie assured her.

“We’ll let you know if we find out anything,” Bennie added.

After giving the Woodwards his card, Charlie led the way out of the Park Avenue penthouse apartment. They didn’t discuss the interview until they were in their car.

“Was it just me, or did that stuff about how happy Amanda and Jim were sound fake?” Charlie asked.

“It wasn’t just you. I was thinking the exact same thing. Where to now?”

“It’s time to pound the pavement in search of clues,” Charlie answered. “And our search is going to begin back on Fifth Avenue. Have you ever been to a wedding planner, my friend?”

“No, but I hope she looks like Jennifer Lopez.”

Wedding Atelier

Alexandra Birch, Amanda Woodward’s wedding coordinator, readily agreed to speak with the two detectives. Not only was Alexandra extremely beautiful, she was also a wealth of information. She led Charlie and Bennie to one of the private seating areas where the event coordinators met with clients. Once they were all sitting down in the most uncomfortable chairs in the world, Charlie delivered the unpleasant news.

“I heard the sirens earlier this morning, but I was on the phone with a client,” she said, dabbing at tears with a tissue. “I had no idea what was going on. It’s just so sad.”

“How well did you know Amanda Woodward?” Bennie inquired.

“We’ve been working together on her wedding since last August,” Alexandra sniffled. “She has come into the shop at least once every two weeks.”

“So it’s safe to assume that the two of you have become friends?” Bennie asked.

Alexandra nodded. “Yes, you could say that.”

Charlie handed the young woman another tissue from the box on the table beside him. “How would you describe Amanda?”

“She’s exceptionally beautiful, but slightly insecure,” Alexandra told them. Her large brown eyes misted over with fresh tears. “I guess I should refer to her in the past tense, but it still doesn’t seem real.”

“Take your time,” Bennie instructed soothingly.

“Amanda has, er, had impeccable taste. I first met her when my boss hired her to do a major redecorating job on the shop. As you can see, she was very talented.”

Charlie shifted his bulky form, trying to find a more comfortable position on the Louis XVI end chair in which he was sitting. He knew the fancy furniture must’ve cost a fortune, but he’d take his ratty recliner any day. “Yeah, everything looks real good,” he managed.

Alexandra forced a tremulous smile. “Amanda prided herself on making sure each and every detail was perfect. That’s why it was taking so long to plan her wedding; she wanted everything to be just right.”

“She sounds like she could be very demanding,” Bennie remarked.

That comment caused Alexandra to wince. “It’s funny you should say that. Some of the girls here actually referred to her as ‘Demanda’. They never did it around me, of course, but I heard about it. You’d better believe that I threatened them within an inch of their lives if they ever called her that again.”

“Did Amanda deserve that little nickname?” Charlie asked.

Alexandra shrugged. “I understand why some people might think she was demanding, but most likely they just hadn’t gotten to know the real Amanda. She may have come across as exacting, but she had a good heart. She was constantly helping this or that charity. She knew she’d been blessed, and she wanted to pay it forward.”

“That’s very admirable,” Charlie commented. “Ms. Birch, did you hear the gunshot?”

Alexandra shook her head. “No, not at all. When was she…?” She paused, struggling for the right words. “What time did she…? When did it happen?”

“That’s what we’re trying to determine,” Bennie explained, flashing his most charming smile at the attractive brunette. “There weren’t a lot of pedestrians at that time of day since most of the shops don’t open until much later, so there weren’t any eye witnesses. One of the nearby boutique owners discovered the body when he came to unlock his shop. That was a few minutes before eight o’clock.”

“What time did Amanda leave here?” Charlie inquired.

“I think it was about seven forty-five,” Alexandra answered.

Charlie made a notation in his notebook. “What time does your shop open?”

“Ten o’clock sharp.”

“If your shop doesn’t open until ten, why was Amanda here so early?” Bennie asked.

“She’d called me the evening before and asked if I could meet her here at seven the next morning,” Alexandra told them. “We make early appointments for our best clients.”

Charlie quirked a brow. “And Amanda was one of your best clients?”

“Oh, yes,” Alexandra assured them. “She has spent a fortune on her upcoming wedding. If she would’ve asked me to come in at two in the morning, I would’ve agreed.”

“Why did she make such an early appointment?” Bennie queried.

Alexandra pursed her lips as she considered her words carefully. “Amanda needed to discuss a confidential matter, so she wanted to meet me without anyone else being here.”

“And what was this secretive meeting about?” Charlie prompted.

It was clear that Alexandra wasn’t sure how to answer. “Detective, I truly want to help you as much as I can. However, our customers pay us handsomely for our services, and they expect all of our discussions to be privileged. Many of them are famous, and if their intimate details are leaked to the press, it could be disastrous. They trust us to keep their confidence.”

“C’mon, Alexandra,” Bennie murmured. “It’s not like you’re a doctor or a lawyer. You aren’t bound by the law keep your conversation with Amanda private.”

“I may not be bound by law, but I am bound nonetheless,” Alexandra asserted. “If I tell you too much, I could find myself unemployed. The shop could lose business—”

“Ms. Birch, I’m going to be frank with you; Amanda Woodward’s dead,” Charlie said. “I seriously doubt she’ll complain if you spill the beans.”

“Besides,” Bennie began, “the reason for that meeting could help us find her murderer. I’m sure your boss wouldn’t fire you for being a hero. You’d be offering crucial information in a homicide investigation.”

“So, how about you tell us what that secret meeting was about?” Charlie prompted.

Alexandra looked from one detective to the other, concern etched on her pretty features. She took a deep breath, and for a minute Charlie thought that the only way they’d get her to talk would be to get a court order. Thankfully, once she released that intake of air, she gave them the information they needed.

“Amanda was very emotional when she called me last night requesting an early appointment,” Alexandra told them. “She was still upset when she came in this morning.”

“Upset?” Bennie repeated. “Do you mean she was mad?”

Alexandra shook her head. “No, she was more hurt than angry.”

“What was wrong with her?” Charlie pressed.

Alexandra look around to make sure that nobody was listening nearby. She leaned in closer to the detectives and assumed a conspiratorial tone. “She suspected her fiancé was cheating on her with another woman.”

“Jim Frayne was cheating on Amanda?” Bennie clarified. “The Jim Frayne that opened up a school for underprivileged children? The Jim Frayne that’s so squeaky clean that he’s known in the media as the last Boy Scout?”

Alexandra nodded.

“How did she find out about Prince Charming’s little affair?” Charlie asked.

“She didn’t tell me,” Alexandra answered.

Bennie drew his hooded brows together in a frown. “How sure was she that he was cheating on her?”

“Sure enough to cancel the wedding,” Alexandra replied.

Charlie had trouble hiding his surprise and keeping a stony expression in place. “Had she told Jim that the wedding was off?”

“She didn’t tell me one way or the other, so I honestly have no idea,” Alexandra said.

“Did she happen to mention the identity of the other woman?” Bennie inquired.

Alexandra shrugged. “If Amanda knew her name, she didn’t share it with me.”

“Ms. Birch, have you ever met Jim Frayne?” Charlie queried.

“Only once,” Alexandra began, “and that was several months ago. I’m guessing it was last August or September.”

Bennie gave Alexandra another one of his winning smiles. “Since Amanda’s fiancé came into the shop so infrequently, is it safe to assume that he didn’t seem very interested in his upcoming wedding?”

Alexandra pondered her words carefully before answering. “Well, I really couldn’t say one way or another. Here at Wedding Atelier, we have all types of grooms. Some are very interested in every detail of their upcoming nuptials, while others are content to merely get to the church on time for the event.”

“And if you had to wager a guess, how excited do you think Jim Frayne was about his upcoming marriage to Amanda?” Charlie prodded.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t really say,” Alexandra hedged.

Bennie decided it was time to try a different angle. “Then maybe you could tell us what your impression was of Jim.”

“Mr. Frayne was very gentlemanly,” Alexandra said. “He seemed quite old-fashioned. He opened the door for Amanda, pulled out her chair, that sort of thing. Anytime a woman entered the room, he’d stand, just like men used to do.”

“Go on,” Charlie prompted.

“He was very handsome, although not in a conventional way. He had rugged good looks, and he filled out his suit rather nicely.” Alexandra paused as she felt a blush creeping up her neck. “However, self-assurance was Mr. Frayne’s most attractive feature. Women find confidence very appealing in a man. Some men just can’t carry that off, and they come across as cocky or arrogant, but Mr. Frayne pulled it off easily. He drew the attention of several of the girls who work in our bridal department.”

Bennie nodded as he made a note in his pad. “Was he a flirt?”

“Oh, no, not at all,” Alexandra assured them. “However, he was so naturally charming and had such a genuine interest in others that some naïve girl might’ve mistaken his friendliness for flirtation.”

“Did Amanda say much about her fiancé during your consulting sessions?” Charlie asked.

“Yes, she talked about him all the time. She was madly in love with him.” Alexandra’s face clouded over. “That’s why she must’ve been… Oh, never mind.”

Charlie motioned for her to continue. “No, go on, Ms. Birch.”

Alexandra worried her lower lip and then began speaking again. “Well, that’s why I’m sure Amanda’s suspicions about Mr. Frayne must’ve been correct. She loved him so much that it would’ve taken something major for her to break up with him. Although…”

“Although?” Bennie cued.

“Although Mr. Frayne didn’t seem like the kind of man that would cheat on his fiancée,” Alexandra murmured. She glanced pointedly in Bennie’s direction. “I’m usually pretty good at recognizing the type who has a wandering eye, so to speak, and Jim Frayne certainly didn’t fit the profile.”

Taking that as their cue to leave, Charlie stood up from the uncomfortable chair in which he’d been sitting. “Thank you for your time, Ms. Birch. We appreciate your cooperation.”

“No problem,” she murmured politely.

“If you remember anything else that might be helpful to us, don’t hesitate to give me a ring,” Bennie said as he handed her one of his cards.

Alexandra nodded. “Yes, I’ll be sure to call either you or Detective Weirton if I think of anything else.”

Once the detectives were outside, Charlie gave Bennie a friendly nudge. “Sorry, buddy, but I don’t think she was that impressed with you.”

“Give her a day or two,” Bennie argued as he got behind the wheel of the Crown Victoria. “She’ll come around. They always do.”

“I guess that would make you an acquired taste, huh?” Charlie remarked. He managed to squeeze into the passenger’s seat.

“Smart aleck,” Bennie muttered.

“Yeah, but you love me anyway.”

“Yeah, I love you so much that I’m counting down the days till you retire, old man,” Bennie countered.

Charlie chuckled, knowing his younger partner was just ribbing him. “Well, a few things are clear after our meeting with Ms. Birch. One, Amanda Woodward sounded like a real pill.”

“Agreed.”

“Two, Jim Frayne ain’t the Boy Scout everyone thinks he is.”

“I’m with you so far.”

“Three,” Charlie continued, “Amanda and Jim’s relationship wasn’t as ‘blissful’ as her parents wanted us to believe.”

Bennie snorted.

“And four, I’ve got a feeling that we just found out why he yelled ‘Trixie’ when he saw his fiancée’s dead body. Sounds like he might’ve had a guilty conscience.”

Bennie nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah, either that or he was accusing her of something.”

“Yeah, like murdering his fiancée,” Charlie murmured. “Looks like Private Investigator Beatrix Belden’s going to be involved in a high-profile murder case. Only this time, she’s the one being investigated.”

Credits:

Thank you to my faithful editors, Steph H and Ryl, who have been kept busy on this story.

As stated earlier, this is a submission for the Special Edition Anniversary #10 CWP, and the elements include:

· Staying up all night- Jim’s stalker had been up all night (part one)

· Any book from the Trixie Belden series- The Mysterious Visitor (in reference to the stalker) (part two)

· A retirement- Detective Charlie Weirton’s upcoming retirement (part two)

· Chili. With beans.- Charlie and Bennie discuss their chili preferences (part two)

· A new meeting place- Jim wanted to meet Trixie for lunch at Freeman’s instead of in Sleepyside (part three)

· A small event that grows unexpectedly large- people showing up unexpectedly at the crime scene (part three)

· A village idiot- a reference to Charlie, and I threw in an idiot-in-training to boot! (part three)

· A major redecorating/redesigning project- Amanda redecorated Wedding Atelier (part four)

Jennifer Lopez is an actress/singer who starred the movie “The Wedding Planner”.

I heard the nickname “Demanda” while watching an episode of “Property Ladder”. The second I heard it, I knew I had to use it for Amanda.

For the record, I have never conducted a murder investigation nor have I interviewed anyone, so I hope this chapter was realistic. Fortunately, I watch a lot of crime dramas. *g*

I have to admit that I’m starting to like Charlie and Bennie. Of course, that might change as the storyline progresses…