Music, Mischief and Murder (A Tootsie Chase Mystery) by Paula Robinson

 

Friday, October 31    4:10 PM

 

Claudette left her office at ten after four,

With a bounce in her step as she walked out the door.

She smiled as she thought of the weekend ahead,

Not once did she think someone might turn up dead!

 

A film that she’d worked on so hard and so long,

Would be shown the next evening and start with a song.

She’d picked out the music to go with each scene,

Songs to enhance what was shown on the screen.

 

The rock documentary had come a long way,

But no one could see it till late Saturday.

The rock film’s director would keep it secure,

He could be trusted…Claudette seemed quite sure.

 

11:25 PM

 

The evening had flown; Claudette’s spirits were high,

She watched a rock band and then met a nice guy.

But, on her drive home she shivered a might,

The spirits were restless this Halloween night.

 

When she reached her condo, the phone started ringing,

She wondered what message the caller was bringing.

After listening intently, she plopped in a chair,

While shaking her head she said, “I’ll be right there.”

 

Earlier that evening in a place across town,

Claudette’s docu-director was wearing a frown.

The film’s docu-man was in a tight spot,

He wanted to meet with a babe that was hot!

 

Yet he needed to keep Claudette’s film safe and sound,

So an excellent hiding place had to be found.

Mark worked on his crew and lived two blocks away,

So he dropped the film off there and went on his way.

 

 

 

 

 

12:00 AM – Home of Tootsie Chase

 

At midnight there came an anonymous call,

The message, “Mark Weller is dead; that’s not all…

His place is a mess; it looks bad from the start,

A drumstick has pierced poor Mark Weller’s heart.

 

“Rock music is blaring, a great song by KISS.

A smokin’ drum solo that no one should miss.

One end of the drumstick was found on the floor,

With splinters of wood scattered by the front door.

 

“A window is open; the place has been trashed,

There is an old laptop that someone has smashed.

It’s Halloween night and poor Mark is dead,

And we need your help,” the night caller said.

 

Saturday, November 1     8:03 AM

 

I go by the name of Tootsie Chase,

A Private Detective brought in on the case

Of a guy found quite dead and it wasn’t too neat,

But at least he died to a rock music beat!

 

I’ve been told all the details of how poor Mark died,

And I think that my suspects have something to hide.

I’ll talk to them all and I think that I might

Find something strange happened on Halloween night.

 

My number of suspects at present is five,

Which one was the last to see Mark alive?

I’ll talk to the suspects and question each one,

To find why Mark was killed and how it was done.

 

The Suspects

 

Claudette Steele

 

Claudette is quite proper and works hard by day,

But by night and on weekends she goes her own way.

She likes loud rock music but puts it on hold

When she plays snare and timpani, so I’ve been told.

 

 

 

 

Kyle Duggan

 

Just give him a camera and watch what he’ll do,

He was part of the rock-documentary crew.

On the use of his pictures he takes a firm stance,

And I’m told he looks fine in his brown leather pants!

 

Rob Williams

 

Talent galore, everyone would agree,

He shot a rock film for the whole world to see.

He left his creation with one of the crew,

But for more recognition, just what would he do?

 

 

Hannah Bean

 

This is a girl with connections galore,

She knows rock musicians and agents and more.

She can manage, promote and converse with the best.

But her loyalty now has been put to the test.

 

Casey James

 

A dreamer, a schemer, musician, a fan,

A closet rock lover, an interesting man.

He’s at home in the shadows or in the bright light.

What was he doing on Halloween night?

 

The Victim

 

Mark Weller

 

He was also a part of the rock-docu crew

In his black leather pants; he liked KISS music too.

The Kissfiction web site he browsed now and then,

He won’t leave a new guest book message again!

 

8:30 AM

 

The scene of the crime is the first place I’ll go,

There are answers to questions I’m anxious to know.

A friend of Claudette’s brought me in on the case,

Now I hope to get in and check out Mark’s place.

 

 

When I arrived just one man was there,

He checked my credentials and that’s only fair.

The body was gone but the place was a mess,

The killer was looking for something I’d guess.

 

“I wonder what’s missing?”  I said to myself,

As I looked at an empty box up on a shelf.

The cover was under a chair by the door,

On the top was the name, Claudette Steele, nothing more.

 

With gloves on my hands I searched for more clues,

There had to be something here that I could use

To build a good case and then solve the crime,

I had a strange feeling there wasn’t much time.

 

Then I heard a guy yell as he burst on the scene,

“Why are you here and what does this mean?”

I said, “I am here because Mark Weller’s dead.”

“Not Mark,” the guy groaned and his hands clutched his head.

 

Behind him a girl in a leopard skin hat,

Started to cry, and I wondered at that.

“Are you Claudette Steele?” I asked of the miss.

“Did you make a film?  Do you listen to KISS?”

 

She nodded her head and sat down in a chair,

I looked at the fingers she pulled through her hair.

I saw some small scratches and I asked her how

She got them and she said, “I can’t tell you now.”

 

“Do you own drumsticks?” I asked Claudette Steele,

To see what the look on her face would reveal.

“My sticks have been missing since…I don’t know when.”

Her scratched fingers swished through her hair once again.

 

“I took them to practice just three weeks ago,

But where they are now, I really don’t know.

You can’t think that I was the killer last night?”

I didn’t say yes, but right now I just might.

 

Her friend put his hand on her shoulder and then,

Said, “Let her alone, I know where she’s been.

We needed to talk, so she was with me,

And her cat gave her those small scratches you see.”

 

 

While Claudette kept her silence, the guy looked around,

Then he asked if any good clues had been found.

I said, “What’s your name?” Though I already knew.

“Rob Williams,” he said, “and how about you?”

 

“Well, I’m Tootsie Chase.  Can I guess why you’re here?

And why Claudette Steele is now shedding a tear.

You left Claudette’s film in Mark Weller’s care.

I’ve looked in the box and it’s to longer there.”

 

I knew I was right by the look on his face,

And that gave a new twist to an interesting case.

Are these two being truthful?  I’ll find out, you bet!

But I don’t have the facts, so I don’t know just yet.

 

Rob looked at Claudette and then bent down quite low,

What he whispered to her, I wanted to know.

It was then I saw something I thought might be dirt,

There were several brown stains on Rob William’s shirt.

 

Then I thought I saw someone slip past the door,

Someone I hadn’t seen in here before.

A mysterious shadow even by day,

When I looked again, it had passed away.

 

I decided to leave and went out on the street.

And a guy with a camera I happened to meet.

“What’s going on here?” he said, “What’s the deal?

Is all of that bright yellow tape there for real?”

 

As his camera kept clicking, I told him, “You bet!

They say Mark is as dead as a body can get.

Are you Kyle Duggan?  Did you know the guy?

If you’re taking pictures I want to know why.”

 

He lowered his camera and looked at me square,

“A guy that I worked with was killed over there.

If the film isn’t shown, my pictures will tell

An interesting story and they’ll do it well.

 

“Claudette likes my work and she knows her stuff,

Perhaps the rock film wasn’t good enough.

Tonight when the crowd wants to see the best,

We’ll see whose talent is put to the test.”

 

 

Then he rubbed his stomach and groaned a bit,

I didn’t quite know what to make of it.

“Was it something you ate?” I asked with a grin.

“Did those Halloween goodies do you in?”

 

Did he know the film was taken last night?

I had a strange feeling this guy just might.

But when we saw Claudette leave Mark Weller’s place,

There was a slight smile on Kyle Duggan’s face.

 

I watched as Claudette got into her car,

I followed in mine and we didn’t go far.

She stopped at a restaurant not far from the scene,

Where she met with her good friend, Hannah Bean.

 

I slipped in a booth not far from their table,

To hear what was said, if I was able.

Hannah’s voice rose and I heard her exclaim,

“If that film is lost, I won’t take any blame.

 

“I knew you should leave your rock film with me,

But I don’t have your trust that is what I can see.

If you’d come to me first, Mark wouldn’t be dead.”

Claudette stiffened a bit and then shook her head.

 

“What do you know about Mark Weller’s death?”

Claudette stared at her friend while holding her breath.

“You don’t trust me now so what should you care.”

It was then I saw something near Hannah Bean’s chair.

 

I went to their table and said, “May I sit?

I’d like to discuss poor Mark’s death a bit.”

Hannah looked cautious, I tried not to stare

At the purse that was leaning against Hannah’s chair.

 

On Hannah Bean’s purse was a splotch of bright red,

“I have to leave now,” is what Hannah said.

When she stood up to leave, the purse tipped my way.

I needed to check out that spot right away.

 

I reached down and grabbed the purse with the stain,

Looked at it close before she could complain.

I handed the purse back to Hannah because,

I realized now what the bright red stain was.

 

 

“Please sit back down and stay for a while.”

Hannah agreed although she did not smile.

“You two sit and chat,” Claudette said in disgust.

“I’m beginning to think there is no one to trust.”

 

Claudette got up to leave and glanced to her right,

She said, “Hi, Casey James, did you play last night?”

He shook his head, smiled and followed her out.

Now what was that conversation about?

 

“Who’s Casey James?” I asked Hannah right then.

“Where is he going and where has he been?

Is he Claudette’s friend, does she like him a lot?”

With a shake of her head Hannah said, “She does not!

 

He’s younger and not Claudette Steele’s type of man,

But his tries to impress her and see if he can

Get asked to attend the film’s showing tonight.”

As I watched them go out, I thought he just might.

 

But who had the film and would it be shown?

It might if the name of the killer was known.

I thought I should track down this Casey James guy,

What Hannah had told me I just didn‘t buy.

 

Then Hannah got up with her purse in her hand,

“I’ve had all the questioning I can stand.”

She left in a huff and then I got a hunch

That I’d follow up after I’d eaten my lunch.

 

1:13 PM

 

When I went to my car and opened the door,

One half of a drumstick was there on the floor.

The large half was lying on my driver’s seat,

With a message attached that was not very sweet!

 

Take this as a warning, Ms. Tootsie Chase,

Don’t get involved in the Mark Weller case!

Don’t hassle Claudette, whatever you do,

Or the next person dead just might be YOU!

 

So, this is the way the game would be played,

A speedy decision had to be made.

I pulled out my cell phone and called up JR.

“I need you right now.  I’m here at my car.”

 

In ten minutes JR arrived at the scene,

He looked at the note. “Yes, I see what you mean!”

(A bodyguard’s nice if you’re threatened and so,

JR is a valuable person to know.)

 

I filled him in quick and we got in his truck,

We’d find Casey soon and then with some luck;

I’ll drop by and check out a catering place,

That I happen to think is involved in this case.

 

We caught up with Casey at quarter past two,

He was on a park bench and was tying his shoe.

I sat down beside him, said, “I’m Tootsie Chase.

I hear you’ve been hanging ‘round Claudette Steele’s place.”

 

He looked over at me and then just said, “So!

There are lots of places that I like to go.

Claudette is my friend; we both listen to KISS,

And her new film’s premiere I’d sure hate to miss.”

 

“Well, the film has been stolen,” I told Casey James.

“I know of five suspects, but I won’t name names.

And Mark Weller’s dead and that isn’t right.

So, what were you doing on Halloween night?”

 

“I was at my computer searching the net.

Chatting with someone I won’t soon forget.”

Apparently that’s all the man had to say,

He got up from the bench and just walked away.

 

“I’d like to go visit that catering place,”

JR looked at me with a questioning face.

“They’re furnishing snacks for Claudette’s premiere,

The owner is clever with food, so I hear.”

 

Heather’s Sugar and Spice was closed for the day,

I peeked in the window and then said, “No, way

Will they be ready to serve snacks tonight.

The place was a mess, a terrible sight.”

 

We went around back by their big kitchen door,

Looked in and saw chocolate all over the floor.

Two trays of snacks, for the gala I’d guess,

Had been looted by pranksters, who made a big mess.          

 

Cookies the shape of two lips, like a kiss,

Were lined up in rows you just couldn’t miss.

Red frosting was slathered on each cookie there,

And signs of the mischief were everywhere.

 

Outside some old crates were scattered about;

The way that they entered the building, no doubt.

JR piled them back up then climbed up to see

A window unlocked and it just shouldn’t be.

 

When he climbed down, I said to JR,

“I need to go back and get into my car,

Retrieve my computer and get on the net,

There’s a piece of this puzzle I haven’t found yet.

 

At kissfiction.com I searched, then I knew

Who committed the crime; I had found the last clue.

I’ve unraveled the mystery; my work is all done.

Now comes the part where you can have fun.

 

Sift through the clues you’ve been given throughout,

Are you a good sleuth, can you figure it out?

What really happened on Halloween night?

Check back on this web site to see if you’re right.

 

This mystery was written for fun.  The people and places in this work of fiction are figments of my very vivid imagination, although I am a frequent visitor to the kissfiction web site and my niece is a very good “mole” as we say in the detective business.  You can also set the mood by having a KISS CD playing in the background.  Their new one, KISS Symphony, is great.  Enjoy and good luck with the solution.

                                                Tootsie Chase

                                                tchasepd@yahoo.com

Click the magnified KISS lips to read the solution to the mystery