Ms. Demeanor (Mystery Christmas Book 4)

by Danica Winters

  He looked to his mom, who was still staring at the door.

  Was it possible that she had known what was in the letter? Had she known this day was coming, and that was why she had turned in on herself as she had?

  He glanced back down at the page. There had to be a way to file for an extension—something, anything they could do to give themselves more time.

  The taste in his mouth grew more putrid as he read the last line of the body of the letter:

  “...an auction will occur if owners fail to remit all sums due by above date.”

  “What does it say?” Gwen asked, leaning against the doorjamb that led from the living room from the kitchen.

  Rainier wasn’t sure how he should handle things, but somehow telling Gwen the truth didn’t seem like the best option. In fact, telling anyone what he had just read seemed about as much fun as chewing off his own hand.

  “Do you mind taking care of Mother, Gwen?” he asked, motioning toward the couch. “Mom, do you want a cup of tea or something?”

  She nodded, finally pulling her gaze away from the door. “Earl Grey, please, Gwen.” She gave a half smile as she returned to the land of the living and false strength.

  “I’ll give her a hand in there,” Laura said, taking Gwen by the arm as they made their way into the kitchen. “That way you two can have a moment.”

  He gave her an acknowledging tip of the head and sat down beside his mother on the couch. He moved the letter so she could see it. “Did you know about this?”

  She took it from his hands and, opening the reading glasses that hung from a cord around her neck, she slid them on and started to read.

  Eventually she tried to speak, but the words came out in a smattering of syllables and garbled sounds, until she finally stopped struggling and simply shook her head.

  “What about Dad?”

  She shook her head again.

  “Is this even real? How could you be getting a final notice of something due next week if you didn’t even know about this?”

  “I’m sure it’s real,” she said, her voice filled with cold resignation. “If I’ve learned anything about William Poe, it’s that he’s capable of whatever he wishes. He has and will do everything in his power to try to tear the family and this place apart. He’s not going to stop until he succeeds.”

  Rainier pointed to the letter. “But something like this had to be in the works for months. Why now? Why is he coming after us with this?”

  “He’s never been a fan of ours, but I don’t know why. For the last few years we managed to keep him at bay, but once he became the county tax appraiser, we knew that our days might be numbered. Then with everything that’s happened...it’s only gotten worse. I told you about his brother, Daryl, and the fire in my letters, yes?”

  He nodded.

  William had to have some kind of vendetta—something that must have gone deeper than his wife dying at the hands of his crazed former sister-in-law, but Rainier could only guess what was behind it.

  “I have to put a stop to this, to him.” He stood up and made his way to the door.

  “No, Rainier, you’re not going to do or say anything that will stop him. William is like a dog with a bone right now. All we can do is hope...”

  “And get a goddamned good lawyer, someone who isn’t afraid to take the bastard down,” he said.

  “I’m sure we’ll try. But Rainier...you have to know that this may be the end of Dunrovin. We are all getting so tired of fighting. Maybe this is just the world’s way of letting us know that it’s time to move on. To get a new dream.”

  “No, Mom, don’t talk like that. You just have some asshat who thinks he can do and say what he wants without repercussions.” He opened the door. William was standing beside his Mercedes, talking to Penny.

  “Officer Marshall, I hope you are planning on escorting that man from our property,” Rainier said, charging toward the two as Wyatt and his father made their way back from behind the barn.

  “Actually, Rainier, Mr. Poe was just asking me a few questions about my job.”

  “Nothing about why you are here?”

  Penny slid William a look that made it clear that was exactly what he had been pressing her about. And knowing about the kind of man William was, Rainier was sure that he was making a solid effort at making a pass on the twenty-something woman, as well.

  “Something going on here?” Wyatt asked, coming closer and sensing the tension in the air.

  “I was just making sure that William here got in his car and left. He ain’t welcome,” Rainier said, pointing toward Poe like he was something a horse had left behind.

  “If you think I want to spend my free time in this hellhole, you have me all wrong. I have much better things to do. There’s money to be made. I told you, I was here as a personal favor. That will be the last time I try to do something nice for you people,” William said, adding an edge of pitifulness to his voice in what Rainier assumed was his attempt to play the victim.

  “You and I both know what was in that letter, and you took great pride and enjoyment in bringing it here. You did it for yourself. You wanted to witness the results of that bomb firsthand.”

  William laughed, the sound echoing through the evening. “You must think that I’m the epitome of evil. I can assure you, Rainier, that I’m not the villain you and your family seem to have made me out to be.” He reached down and took Penny’s hand and gave it a quick peck. “I’m sorry you had to witness all of this, Officer Marshall. On the other hand, it is good that you know exactly the kind of hatred that this family seems all too capable of.”

  Penny pulled back her hand, but not before Rainier noticed a little flush in her face.

  He really couldn’t understand what women saw in this guy. He was clearly nothing but a selfish, lowlife con artist.

  William walked away, giving Penny one more tip of the head before he got into his car and drove off. As the light from his taillights disappeared in the distance, Wyatt turned toward Rainier. “What was all that about?”

  He looked to Penny, hoping his brother would take the silent cue that they shouldn’t be talking about William in front of what could possibly be one of his many love-struck followers.

  Wyatt gave him a small, almost imperceptible nod.

  “What did you guys find back there?” Rainier asked, thankful for his brother’s understanding. “Are they human remains or animal?”

  “Definitely human. And the gun has been in that ground for a while. We got the area cordoned off and tomorrow we’ll get our team out here to start excavating the crime scene.”

  “Crime scene?” Rainier asked, a cold chill running through him.

  “Any time there is an unwitnessed death—no matter how long it’s been since it happened—we have to treat it like a crime scene.”

  “Do you have any idea how long the bone has been there? Or who they could have belonged to?”

  Wyatt shook his head. “Like I said, we’ll have to go over the entire scene with a fine-tooth comb and send in our findings to the medical examiner. But until then there is nothing I can say as to what the findings will be.” Wyatt stared at him for a moment. “Is there some reason you are so inquisitive?”

  So there it was; his brother’s true feelings toward him were rearing their ugly head once again.

  “I just want the best for everyone and everything involved here, Wyatt. Can’t we call some kind of truce or something?” Rainier waved in the direction William’s car had gone. “He’s our real enemy...not members of our own family.”

  “I’m not your enemy, brother, but I do care what happens to this family—and I care when someone, even someone in our ranks, does things that are outside our best interest.” Wyatt turned to Penny. “I want you to stay here, retain the chain of custody on this crime sce
ne until Lyle and Steve can come in and conduct their investigation. Don’t let anyone, especially him—” he pointed at Rainier “—close to the scene.”

  His brother stormed off to his patrol car, slamming the door as he got in.

  Rainier had no idea how he was going to fix things with his brother, only that he had to, not only for his own sake, but for the sake of his parents. They didn’t need to deal with his brother’s petty drama, not now.

  “If you’ll excuse me,” said Penny, “I’m just going to get going...” She gave him a look that was half apologetic and yet still held an air of skepticism as to the kind of man he was.

  “Yeah, no problem. And don’t worry, no matter what my brother thinks, I have no intention of messing around with your crime scene or anything else. In fact, if you need anything—food, whatever—let me know and I can get something to you.”

  Penny smiled and some of the reservation she seemed to hold for him slipped away. “I appreciate that, Rainier. I’ll let you know.”

  He nodded, and he and his father watched as she walked off. As soon as she was out of earshot, Merle turned toward him. “Now, what was that with William? What was in the letter?”

  Rainier cringed. The last thing he wanted to do was break the news to his father about the back taxes. “I think you should talk to Mom. She’s pretty upset.”

  They made their way into the house. Rainier was happy to get in from the cold. He hadn’t noticed how it had crept up on him, stealing his heat until his fingers and toes had gone almost completely numb. He squeezed his fists, forcing blood back into his extremities as they made their way into the dining room. Everyone was sitting around the table, and it reminded him of their traditional family suppers, except in this case, no one was smiling.

  This was all a far cry from what he had expected to come home to. He couldn’t help wondering, as he looked around at the tired and haggard expressions, if maybe everyone would have been better off if he had simply stayed behind bars.

  Laura stood up and made her way over to him, just out of earshot from the rest of the family. “Is everything okay outside? Is William gone?”

  “You know it.”

  “Where’s Wyatt and his team?”

  “His team isn’t going to come in until tomorrow. I think they feel a body this old doesn’t need a team to come out this late in the night. I think they are planning on hitting it at first light.”

  “So they don’t need to interview us?” A look of relief washed over her.

  He shook his head. “No, and don’t worry. Everything is going to be fine.”

  “Even with the letter? Are your parents going to be able to afford this?” she whispered, looking around to make sure no one else could hear her.

  He looked to his mother. “I don’t think so. Their best hope is to find a good lawyer. They’re going to have to fight...and fight hard. But there isn’t much time. According to the letter, they have to pay by the end of the year. And by now—you know how the government works—everything is shut down for the year. They’re going to have a hell of a time getting in touch with the right people...people who can put a stop to this, or can help them figure out how they should go about fixing it.”

  Laura nibbled at her lip. “Do they have a lawyer on retainer?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t think so, but with everything that’s happened here, it would be a good idea if they did. Hell, I bet by now they would have some kind of punch card started.”

  She gave a little laugh, but bit it back. “If they need someone, you know my father...he’s a lawyer.”

  “And apparently a friend of William Poe’s?” He gave her a questioning look.

  “They work together. You know how it is in small towns—everyone in the county runs into each other, and it’s best that they remain civil. We all just end up using each other.” She shifted her weight as if she were trying to rid herself of the burden of what she had just accused the government officials of. “My father is a tough man to get along with, and he may not take on the case, but if you want I can talk to him about all of this.”

  From the fatalistic but determined look on her face, Rainier could see that this was an offer she never made, and it helped him appreciate her favor that much more.

  “If you wouldn’t mind...maybe you and I can go tomorrow and I can talk to him, as well. Make him understand all that is happening.”

  “I’m sorry, Rainier.” She looked down at her hands. “But I’m not sure that’s the best idea. My father knows about you...what happened. He’s not one of your biggest fans. And if we are going to have him as an ally, maybe it’s better if someone else comes.”

  Merle cleared his throat, as though reminding them that they weren’t alone. “Laura, if you’d like, Mother and I would love to go and talk to your father.”

  Laura blushed. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for you to hear—”

  Merle waved her off. “No worries. I...I mean, we appreciate all the help we can get.”

  “I’ll meet you at his office in the morning.” She reached over and touched Rainier’s upper arm. Having her hand on him felt as good as it felt wrong, but neither of them pulled away. “Why don’t you come with us, after all? Even if you’re not in the meeting, I’d like to have you there to support your parents...and me.”

  He smiled. For the first time all day, something was going right.

  Chapter Seven

  She’d had an inbox full of emails when she’d gotten up this morning; most were about parolees and questions from potential employers. Laura made quick work of them and made a few phone calls, but all she could think about was seeing her father, the ever terrifying Dennis Blade, Esq.

  There were many who thought her father charming, service-oriented and willing to go the extra mile. But she had known the other side of him much better—his need to control, to manipulate and use people, and to do whatever it took to get what he wanted. If someone were to ask her if he was a good person, she wasn’t sure she could say yes; rather, she would have told them that he was simply a man. He was both good and bad, giving and taking, and though he had faults, he’d always loved her.

  Even if that love meant him being a constant source of anxiety in her life.

  That anxiety had always been associated with family, which was why the Fitzgeralds were like an enigma—with Rainier’s parents’ open arms and open minds, the self-sacrifice and generosity of spirit. The only tension came from Rainier and Wyatt, but even she could see that beneath the hurt feelings and animosity was a deep well of love.

  It wasn’t a long drive to her father’s office building in the city, and when she arrived, Rainier, Merle and Eloise were already there. They were standing beside their car, huddled in a little group while they waited for her. She glanced down at her watch and saw she was fifteen minutes early.

  She parked beside them, and as her eyes met Rainier’s she couldn’t help the little jolt of excitement she felt at seeing him again.

  “Hey,” he said, holding out his hand to help her step from her car.

  Though it was in the single digits outside, his hand was warm, making her wonder if his body was reacting to her being near, just as hers was to his presence.

  “Hi,” she replied, but even to her ears she sounded like an enamored teen, and she chastised herself. She cleared her throat as she tried to collect her emotions, and reminded herself there was nothing between them. “Mrs. and Mr. Fitzgerald,” she said, giving his parents a quick wave as she pulled her other hand from Rainier’s warm grip.

  “Please call us Merle and Eloise,” his mother said. “I think we’ve moved past formalities.”

  “Absolutely, Eloise.” Laura smiled and gave the woman a slight, appreciative nod. “Been here long?”

  Rainier shook his head. “Only about ten minutes. We wanted to make sur
e we had enough time to talk before we went inside.”

  So he had been outside long enough for his fingers to grow cold. The thought made her grin. Maybe his attraction to her wasn’t just something she was imagining. But it was still silly to get her hopes up—or to have any hopes at all, for that matter.

  “Did you have something on your mind?” Laura asked, trying to stop herself from thinking about anything that wasn’t directly involved with their mission.

  Merle and Eloise looked at each other as if they could speak in some silent code after so many years of marriage.

  “We just wanted to say we know you’re going out of your way to help us,” Eloise said. “We appreciate everything you’re trying to do, with Rainier included. Yet we understand what a long shot it’s going to be, getting us out of trouble with the county.”

  “I’m sure everything will be all—”

  “No, that’s it,” Eloise interrupted. “It may not turn out how we all hope. We don’t want you to be disappointed and feel like you failed if this doesn’t work out.”

  Laura wanted to hug her for being so understanding even in these hard times. It took a higher class of lady to think about others and put their feelings first, when so much was going on in her own world.

  Laura wanted to comfort her and tell her that she was wrong, that they would make everything come together and all their troubles disappear, but she couldn’t bring herself to lie. Eloise was right, the chances were low, but that didn’t mean they had to lose hope. If anything, it was in times like these, when everything seemed so bleak, that having faith and hope was most critical.

  “Let’s talk to my father first and see what he has to say. He tends to know the right people, at least the kind of people who can make something like this disappear.” She wasn’t sure if she should tell them about his penchant for being mercurial, especially when it came to his daughter and her requests for help.

  Eloise sighed, the sound speaking volumes of relief that Laura’s words must have given her. They made their way inside, through the elaborate curly maple doors that led to her father’s office lobby. With each step, her nervousness grew, forcing her to wipe her sweaty palm against her skirt. She glanced down at the little wet mark left behind. No doubt her father would notice; he was nothing if not detail oriented.