Hot Summer Murder

1. A Successful Exhibit

The tourists are gone. Thousands came north for the crafts fair, a free jazz concert, an art exhibit, and to escape the heat in the cities. They didn’t escape the heat. It’s still a hot evening the Monday after Pineville’s big 4th of July celebration.  Red-haired Erin O’Shea walks slowly from her small house on Third Street to Main Street. Usually by this time there’s a cool breeze off Lake Huron. Not this evening. It’s only slightly cooler on Main Street in the shade of the big maples lining both sides of the street. She smiles as she passes the Cut and Curl salon, her salon.

The forty something-year-old Erin is single. She dated in senior year of high school and while she waited tables in the Corner Bar. She found half the men she dated wouldn’t stand up to her strong will. The other half would stand up to her but be too controlling. She couldn’t see a life with either type. Her strong-willed mother dominated her father. It saddened Erin to watch her father’s spirit crushed. She didn’t want to do that to a man she loved. Neither did she intend to be controlled by a man. 

Erin moved out from under her mother’s control as soon as she got a job at the Corner Bar. Waitressing paid for her apartment rent and hairdressing classes. She found work at the Cut and Curl salon soon after she was licensed. Two years later her parents were killed in an auto accident. She inherited their house and enough money to buy the salon when the owner retired a few months later. 

Erin’s dating slowed as the pool of unmarried men in Pineville she hadn’t rejected became smaller and smaller. That, coupled with listening to married women complaining about their husbands, eventually led to Erin deciding to remain single. She likes being busy with her salon, drawing with a small group of friends in the Art Society, and playing bridge every two weeks. When she wants to go out for dinner she goes with the local activist Violet Green. Violet works for her in the salon, had divorced her husband Ed nearly ten years ago, but stays emotionally attached to him. 

The Pineville Art Society meets every Monday evening in the drab, vacant room above their co-op art and craft gallery store on Main Street. Tonight Erin, the leader of the Art Society is giving the financial report on the Society’s Art on the Lake exhibit held every 4th of July.

She’s smiling, her hands are gesturing, and her green eyes flashing as she says excitedly, “We made $1500 this year. Holding our exhibit at the harbor made a big difference. That and having our world-famous jazz guitarist Jean Villmere praise our exhibit during his concert at the harbor pavilion. With the holiday boat people and the people attending the jazz performance adding to the usual tourists we had twice as many people at our exhibit and we made twice the money.”

The six other members attending cheer Erin’s good news. Recently remarried Jolene Black, a gorgeous young blue-eyed blonde, says, “I'm glad we moved our exhibit to the harbor from Wellborne beach. I didn’t have to be reminded of a bad time in my life. I would have dreaded going to that beach for our exhibit. It would have brought back memories of Carson’s murder. I’m glad I donated the beach property to the State for the new State Park.”

Retired detective Pamela Lafave offers, “Jolene, all that’s behind you. You have Jake now and the city has Pineville State Park. It’s bringing in more tourists than Carson Crenshaw’s development would have. We’re all thankful some good came of Carson’s tragic death.”

Harrison Cook, the tall suntanned Harbormaster adds, “I agree with Pam. Glad I thought to offer the green space at the harbor for our exhibit. Even though Jolene made it possible for us to hold our exhibit at Pineville State Park, I think we should plan on keeping it at the harbor; especially since we made more money. Now, what are we going to do with our money this year?”

Rev. Joe Penny, the tall, elderly priest at St. James Episcopal church says, “It’s always fun to have more money to distribute than you expected. I hope we can do something benefiting the poor in our community.”

Pam replies, “I’m sure we can, Joe. Maybe we can do something for all the villagers. I think it would be welcomed if we could bring a little more culture to our little village on Lake Huron.”

“And let’s not forget doing something for our Society. I’d like to make our gallery store more attractive or paint this drab room. A brighter color would make it more pleasant drawing here, or even better, an air conditioner for hot nights like this,” suggests Sarah Brown, the local plumber’s wife.

Erin says, “Before we get too involved in planning what to do with the money let’s review this year’s exhibit. I thought we were taking a chance with our theme of the classic old masters’ nudes and modeling for them ourselves. But the people coming to the exhibit seemed to like the nudes. I only heard a couple of negative comments about exposing kids to pictures of naked people. Pam, we owe you thanks for suggesting that theme.”

Sarah offers, “I agree, Pam. Thank you. I know most of the men who were ogling our versions of Titian’s ‘Venus of Urbino’ agree. I’m sure they were more interested in Jolene’s body than our painting skills. You were a great model, Jolene.”

Glen, never missing an opportunity to needle the gay Harrison says, “Harrison's gay friends were sure enjoying the paintings Harrison modeled for.”

Rev. Joe adds, “The paintings Harrison modeled for were a lot more interesting than the paintings of my old skinny backside.”

Joe’s comment brings laughs, then Erin says, “Getting serious for a moment, we do have to decide if we want another year of paintings with a common theme or each of us paint what we like. And we have to decide how we distribute our money. But we don’t have to make any decisions tonight. We’ve worked hard getting ready for the exhibit. How about we take a week off? It’ll give us time to think about plans for next year and for distributing our money.”

“That’s a good idea, Erin. It’ll give us time to listen to what our friends and neighbors say about our exhibit. I think it’s important to keep the villagers on our side as well as earn money from tourists,” says Sarah.

Pam adds, “Erin, I bet you’ll hear plenty of comments from the ladies getting their hair done and Jolene, maybe men getting their hair cut will comment to you.”

Jolene answers, “Not likely, men usually want to talk about sports. I have to read Sports Illustrated to know what they are talking about. Jake’s a big help. He loves football and follows the local high school teams as well as college and pro football. I think it brings back memories of his glory days as our high school football star.”

Pam asks, “Is Jake’s PTSD getting better, Jolene?”

“Slowly, Pam. He can handle being with groups of people now if there isn’t too much noise. He did okay last deer hunting season staying at my quiet beach house. There’s no hunting allowed on the property behind my lot. Any rifle shots were half a mile away. I don’t think he’s worried about this year’s season, although I expect it will be several years before he wants to hunt again. He hopes he’ll be able to work in a bank or credit union by the time he finishes his business degree on-line.”

Glen Lund interrupts, “How about we adjourn for tonight? My wife will be delighted if I get home early for once.”

Pam says, “Glen, you’ve been unusually quiet tonight and you have a glum look. Is it the heat or is something else wrong?”

“I’m sorry it shows. I have a lot on my mind with my additional work with the City Treasurer and I’ve been getting threatening letters. The letters are upsetting Trudy. She didn’t want me to go out tonight. That’s why I’m ready to adjourn and go home.”

“Do you know who is sending the letters, Glen? Could it be someone unhappy with one of the land deals you and the mayor have done? ” Pam inquires, looking sympathetically at Glen.

“No, the mayor and I haven’t done anything illegal. I assume it’s someone upset with their tax assessment. I’m not worried, but I’m upset that it’s disturbing Trudy,” Glen replies.

Joe asks, “Have you reported the threatening letters to the sheriff?”

“No, I don’t want to bother Sheriff Ericsson,” says Glen.

Erin says, “Glen, promise us you’ll tell the sheriff if you keep getting threats.”

“Okay, I will. Can we adjourn and go home now?” Glen pleads.

Everyone nods in agreement. They get up, say goodbyes, and leave the hot drab room.