“That’s sad, Travis. I guess you were the typical poor little rich boy.”
“Not that bad. When I was young, I had a nanny who was more like a mother than Pamela. When I was older, I liked living away from home. I didn’t know how most families lived so I didn’t know what I was missing.”
*****
As they drove up the long driveway to the Danforth estate, Joanna shivered. It was a cloudy day which only added to the dreariness of the mansion and the overgrown shrubbery intended to keep visitors away.
“I’ll drive around out back to the studio, that way we won’t run into Beatrice and Igor, her protector.”
“Is his name really Igor?” Joanna asked.
“I don’t know what his name is but Igor fits him, don’t you think?”
Alec stepped out of his studio when he heard the car approach.
“Joanna, I see you have brought a bodyguard with you, don’t tell me you believe I collect young girls and fry them up in a pan for my dinner?”
“I know you won’t do that to me, Alec; my grandma always tells me I don’t have enough meat on my bones.”
“She’s not easily intimidated, is she Travis?” Alec said chuckling.
“No, Alec, you’ve met your match with Joanna. I brought a lease for the store front in Evergreen, if you are still interested.”
“I’m impressed, the boss man is doing the job of a leasing agent, tell me Travis, are you so afraid I will hurt our little flower you lowered yourself to the task of an errand boy?”
“Where’s the animosity coming from Alec? I am here to check out your studio to see if the property in Evergreen will be adequate for you.”
“I apologize Travis, my sister has been on my back this morning. I made the mistake of telling her I wanted to reopen the gallery and she is throwing a fit. I’m glad you drove around to the studio, Beatrice would have come after you with a baseball bat if she knew you had a lease with you.”
“You realize the second floor has a large room suitable for a studio and comes with a kitchen, a bath and bedroom.”
“That’s what makes it so appealing. Joanna, do you mind if we postpone our session, I would like to see the shop before I lose my nerve about venturing out on my own. My sister has kept me under control since I was a kid. It’s time for me to live my life.”
Joanna saw a different Alec than she had when they met the other times. She wasn’t apprehensive about being with him. He no longer showed the instability she saw in him before. It made her even more curious about what would make a man, old enough to be her father, afraid of his sister. Was Beatrice protecting him because he caused the death of his parents, accidentally or deliberately. It gave her a chill to think of the guilt the little boy has carried all these years. Is it possible an eight-year-old would have enough anger in him to murder his mother and father? Although Alec seemed safe now, she was happy Travis came along with her today. She knew she didn’t want to be alone with the man whose disposition could change in a matter of minutes.
Beatrice appeared at the door and glared with venom in her eyes at Travis and Joanna. “What is going on here Alec, your lunch is waiting in the main house. If you two will excuse Mr. Danforth, he is not receiving guests today.”
“I’ve already received my guests, Beatrice. They will leave and I am going with them. Don’t make a fuss, Travis is taking me to my new gallery. I will pick up a hamburger at a fast-food restaurant while I’m in town.” Alec knew the mention of fast- food would throw shock waves through his sister but he didn’t care.
Beatrice Danforth held her tongue, she wanted to lash out at Alec but it wouldn’t be proper for them to air their personal business in front of these two characters. It’s because of that stupid ring, I should have buried it deep in the ground when I had the chance.
Chapter Twelve
“Joanna, I didn’t expect to see you so soon, is your session with Alec over already?”
“No, he cancelled it. He and Travis are at the shop down the street. Alec will lease it and live in the apartment above. I don’t know what brought about the change in him, he is running away from home. I’ll call Dylan and tell him I survived my visit this morning, to be honest, Molly, I’m glad Travis was with me. I’m not sure I want to be alone with Alec again.”
Molly told Joanna about her conversation with Dylan earlier. “Laura mentioned Ms. Blanchard being at her apartment when she was recovering from surgery. It could be coincidental that the ring was missing after her visit and it turned up in Lake Hillsboro. Now she is dead of an accident caused by her falling asleep at the wheel?”
“Molly, we should drop this. If Alec had something to do with that woman’s death, there is no telling what he will do to us if we try to find answers.”
“I know you’re right but I can’t let it go. I’ve called Arlene Blanchard’s sister, Ada Pierce, and she is expecting me tomorrow morning. I understand if you’d rather not come with me.”
“No, we are in this together. I want to know if Alec Danforth is a madman or simply a poor schmuck who is manipulated by his sister.”
*****
The next morning, Molly and Joanna arrived in Pineridge with time to spare. They met Laura Abbott at a coffee shop near the school. Laura was surprised to learn Ms. Blanchard’s fate.
“I don’t think the staff is aware of her death, we were told she’d taken a job in another state. I wonder if Mr. Fisher knows the truth?”
Molly intended to find the answer to that question when she talked with Ada Pierce.
*****
Ada Pierce was an attractive woman in her early sixties. Although she was dressed casually, her choice of a sleeveless sweater and perfectly fitted slacks suggested designer clothing. The home in an upscale neighborhood is simple yet, elegantly furnished.
“Hello, Mrs. Pierce,” said Molly.
“Please call me Ada. I’m so happy someone has taken an interest in my sister and her so-called accidental death.”
“You said on the phone yesterday that your sister didn’t take so much as an aspirin and you find it impossible to believe she had a sedative in her system,” said Molly.
“That is correct, my sister didn’t believe in any kind of drug. If she ever had a headache or a cold, she believed only yoga and meditation would cure her. She was vehemently opposed to tranquilizers of any kind and had no tolerance for those who relied on such medications. I’m afraid I haven’t been truthful about Arlene’s death. I didn’t want Mr. Fisher, her boss, to know it had been discovered she had drugs in her system. She would be mortified at the thought. I lied to Mr. Fisher and told him she found a job out of state. He didn’t question it and said to wish her well. Poor Arlene, she was in love with that man and he barely gave her a thought.”
“Do you have any idea why Arlene was in Evergreen when she died?”
“Yes, she was snooping for information. I told her to stay out of it but she wouldn’t listen. I loved my sister, but she was a stubborn woman and look where it got her?
“I didn’t know how much danger she was in until I read her diary. She discovered something sinister when she traveled to the west side of the state.”
Molly and Joanna read the diary entries together.
I’m frustrated with Nelson, I know I’m only his assistant but I want to be so much more to him. His wife has been dead for almost three years now. He must be lonely, I know he works long hours at school because he doesn’t like to go home to an empty house. Why can’t he see I would bring a sparkle to those sad eyes again?
*****
Ms. Abbott was taken to the hospital last night by her landlord. It turns out she has a ruptured appendix. I heard Nelson talking with the other fifth grade teacher. He seemed surprised she once lived in Hillsboro. Nelson has only been the school’s principal here for four years, Ms. Abbott was hired long before that. I wonder what Hillsboro means to Mr. Fisher. I am determined to find out.
******
Nelson left his door open when
he was talking to Mr. Collins. I stood as close to the door as possible without being seen. Nelson talked about a time in his youth when he visited his cousin, Billy, in Hillsboro for the summer. He told Mr. Collins it was a time in his life he wasn’t proud of. The mention of Hillsboro brought back memories of a young man who relished the freedom of being away from his home for the first time in his life. Billy’s parents worked long hours and the boys were left to fend for themselves most of the day. Nelson might have gotten into more trouble than he wants to admit while he was in Hillsboro.
*****
I had the perfect opportunity to investigate Nelson’s Hillsboro connection when I came up with a plan to visit Laura Abbott and bring her get well greetings from the school staff. The poor thing is so sick she dozed off on her sofa when I was there. It was the perfect opportunity for me to find something about Hillsboro and discover why Nelson is so ashamed of his behavior. I hit pay dirt when I opened the top drawer of her dresser. Little Miss goodie two-shoes had an exquisite engagement ring in a little black box. I put the ring in my pocket and left the box. She was so doped up on those nasty medications, she won’t remember I was here. I will have this ring checked out. Maybe Ada will know something about it. I’ll tell her I found it in the ladies’ room at school.
*****
I knew Ada would have an answer for me. She said the design on the ring was done by a jeweler named Gustav Bossart who has a jewelry store in Hillsboro. She told me the ring is valuable and I should attempt to find the owner. I assured her I would but I have no intention of doing so. I think this ring and Nelson’s secret are connected and I will find out what that connection is.
*****
That was the last page of Arlene Blanchard’s journal.
“Ada,” said Molly, “the ring is valuable. I found it on the shore of Lake Hillsboro about a year ago. That is around the time of your sister’s accident.”
“You found the ring that long ago? What was it doing in the lake?”
“That is a good question. I found it along with a scarf spattered with blood, if I remember correctly, the scarf was part of the St. John Collection. The police destroyed the scarf because of the blood stains. They gave me the ring because no one claimed it. That led to my interest.”
Ada’s face lost its color.
“Are you all right, Ada?” Joanna asked.
“You said the St. John Collection? It was Arlene’s favorite. I bought her a St. John scarf every year for her birthday. She wore them constantly. That should prove my sister was murdered.”
“The highway where your sister’s accident occurred is miles away from Lake Hillsboro. It may have been Arlene’s scarf but she wasn’t wearing it when she drove off the road.”
“Do you think it’s enough to make the police reopen the case?”
“I will check with Detective Dylan Roth; he knows of the case and is Joanna’s boyfriend. She has a certain amount of influence over him. There are too many unanswered questions about this mystery.”
******
It had been a tiring day, Molly was happy when she pulled into the driveway of her home on the lake. She looked forward to relaxing with a glass of wine, maybe having a bit to eat and flopping on the sofa falling dozing while watching an old movie she’d seen dozens of times before. All exhaustion left her body when she opened the door and saw Luke standing there with his arms outstretched.
“You are home,” she said as her eyes filled with happy tears. “I didn’t expect you until the end of the week.”
“I couldn’t stand being away from you any longer. Milt canceled the last two stops, and I booked the first trip out to surprise you. I should have called because it was a surprise when I heard you and Joanna went to Pineridge. You won’t let this thing go, will you Molly?”
“I can’t let it go, Luke, something is not right about this. If you met Laura Abbott, you’d understand. Someone caused her to give up on the man she loved. I want to find out why. For now, though I only want you to hold me, I’ve missed you so much.”
“I’ll be hanging around Evergreen for a long time now. I’m sure you will be sick of me and beg Milt to set up another country-wide tour to get me out of your hair.”
“You are here now and I won’t let Milt take you away again.” Molly showed her man how much she’d missed him by smothering him with kisses.
Exhaustion hit Molly again hours later and she slept soundly in Luke’s arms until the sun shone through their bedroom window.
Luke still felt the effects of the three-hour time difference and Molly let him sleep while she showered and dressed for the day. She called Stephanie to say she wouldn’t be at either shop today.
“I understand, sis. You and Luke enjoy your day together.”
“I know I have been neglecting the shops lately and hope you girls aren’t burning out. Margaret tells me she has a friend who would love to work in the Hillsboro shop. I can swing another clerk.”
“Her name is Rosie Allen. She stopped by the shop yesterday. She is a lovely woman who moved here from Scranton a few months ago. She has experience working in a floral shop. She’d be a great addition to the staff.”
“Stephanie, I trust your judgement. Ask her to apply and I’ll be in later to meet with her if she’s interested.”
“All done, Boss, she filled out the paperwork yesterday. I knew you would be interested. You enjoy Luke today and I’ll ask Rosie to stop by tomorrow to talk with you.”
“No, I’ll be in later. Luke is eager to get back to writing and he will need peace and quiet to get his groove back. I’ll be there around one o’clock if that’s good for her.”
*****
Stephanie’s instincts were correct. Rosie Allen would be an asset to the Buds and Blooms staff. She had worked several years for a florist in Pennsylvania who retired earlier in the year and closed his shop. Rosie took it as a sign and moved to Hillsboro where her daughter, Dana, was a resident physician at the new Lakeside Community Hospital. Molly liked the older woman and knew they would be friends. She was interested to find that her daughter’s specialty was obstetrics and gynecology. Molly knew she shouldn’t worry but had a nagging fear she would never conceive a child.
Chapter Thirteen
“Molly Ryan Sullivan, what are you doing at work when that gorgeous husband of yours is home all by himself,” asked Brooke Kincaid when she telephoned her friend.
“Everyone forgets Luke is a writer, and that is what he’s doing. He doesn’t need me around to distract him from writing his next best-seller. Besides, I have been neglecting both shops thanks to Alec Danforth.”
Molly told her friend about what she and Joanna learned and the accident involving Arlene Blanchard after a visit to the Danforth mansion.
“I have news on that subject,” said Brooke. “I will design Alec Danforth’s gallery and apartment. I will work on the apartment this morning. There isn’t much to do, he isn’t interested in anything formal, a comfortable place for him to live.”
“He’s serious about moving out of the mansion. I’m surprised Beatrice has agreed to it.”
“I don’t think she knows of his plans. Travis says she is vehemently opposed to him opening another gallery. The old bat called our home last night and laid into Travis about pressuring her brother into signing a lease. Beatrice treats the man like a five-year-old. I wonder what hold she has over him?”
“That is a good question, tell me, Brooke, did you have bad vibes when you were with Alec?”
“No, I was surprised, I know you didn’t feel comfortable with him but he seemed normal. He’s a little shy but he was calm, almost laid back. Travis said he saw his personality change on a dime when he met with him the day before. I wonder if he is on medication. It could explain his mood swings.”
“Medication as in a sedative?” asked Molly, thinking of Arlene Blanchard’s accident.
“Molly, you have that sleuthing tone to your voice, I can always tell when you are unfolding a mystery. What can
I do to help?”
“You can keep your eyes open when you help Alec move into his new digs. Let me know what kind of prescription drugs he puts in his medicine cabinet.”
“Are you saying big sis is drugging the guy?”
“If that’s the case, she would have to be conspiring with a doctor and a pharmacy. It doesn’t seem possible she has been forcing pills on him all these years. From what Susan Benton says, except for the time Alec had his art gallery, the Danforth’s have been reclusive since their parents died.”
“What’s the sister like? She sounds like a weirdo.”
“She is hard to describe, the type that could walk by and no one would notice her. Except for being strange, Alec is a handsome man. Beatrice didn’t get the looks in the family although she might have been pretty as a young girl. Maybe she wouldn’t be as unattractive if she didn’t have a scowl on her face when I saw her.”
*****
Ava Pierce poured herself a cup of coffee to help relieve the cobwebs in her head. Ava was a widow who had grown accustomed to living alone and never was bothered by the sounds outside her bedroom window. Last night she heard every car that passed by and every tree limb that brushed against the house. She couldn’t get the thought of Arlene being murdered out of her mind.
Ava and Arlene had never been close in their later years. Arlene never married, and the sisters had little in common even after Phillip Pierce passed away ten years before.
I’m ashamed that I didn’t tell Mr. Fisher the truth about why Ava wasn’t coming back. I was trying to protect her from embarrassment that would have been caused if he knew she’d been under the influence of a drug. The shock of her death made me realize how lonely a woman she was. Maybe if I’d been more of a sister to her, she wouldn’t have suffered from the effects of one-sided love. It’s time I have a talk with Mr. Fisher. Molly Ryan and her friend have made me wonder what happened to Arlene.
Murder in Evergreen Page 7
