Getting up, he dusted his hands. “I’ve got some meetings today, by the way. Some folks from New York are coming in.”
“Anything interesting?” Aurora asked.
“Not really,” Max said. “That should be a pretty quick one. I doubt these folks will be very happy with me.”
“Why not?”
“Well, I have to say ‘no’ to them about something, and people never like hearing that word.” Max smiled. “Let’s get on with it, shall we?”
“Sure,” Aurora said.
Max’s words remained on her mind as she went inside. He had been deliberately casual when he spoke. She got the feeling there was a large piece of the story he wasn’t telling her. Who were these New Yorkers anyway? The calendar held no clues - apparently Max hadn’t been using it at all after his uncle died.
It wasn’t until later that day, when she went to get lunch, that she would find her answer.
*****
With the café shut, the only other options were a fast food chain on the highway or the bar. So Aurora found herself heading to Murphy’s once more. It was a lot more crowded this time, although there was no sign of Beppe anywhere. Aurora headed to the counter and hopped up on a seat. She snagged a menu from nearby and began reading it with interest. Cole appeared at the counter.
“Can I help?” He smiled. “I recommend the turkey on rye. It’s fresh baked bread.”
“I’ll have that, then. To go.” Aurora nodded. “And I’d like a sandwich for my boss. Max would like—”
“A ham and cheese with an extra pickle on the side.” Cole grinned. “Am I right or am I right?”
“You are…quite right.” Aurora laughed. “He’s got meetings all day - some people from New York City are even coming up.”
“Oh, is it the law firm Chip was selling to?” Cole looked interested. “Lucky turn of events for Max, isn’t it?”
“What do you mean?” Aurora asked.
“Well...” Cole lowered his voice a little, “between us, Chip was going to sell his firm to some bigwigs from the city. He supposedly was gonna get a tidy sum for it, too. He would have been able to retire in style.”
“And Max didn’t want that?”
“Max came to Bent River under the impression that he’d work with his uncle and eventually inherit the practice. If Chip sold, Max would have been out of a job,” Cole said. “He was pretty hot under the collar when he found out what Chip was planning. He took it as a total betrayal. He was so hot at one point he even texted me that he hated him.” Cole looked at Aurora’s face and shook his head. “I know what you’re thinking, but it wasn’t like that. Max was just miffed, that’s all. Anyone would be annoyed, wouldn’t they? I expect he and Chip had a few fights about it.”
“Fights…” Aurora rolled the word around her tongue. “You think they fought?”
“I don’t know, really,” Cole said, suddenly uncomfortable. “Look, I talk too much sometimes. Don’t repeat this to anyone, will you? They’ll take it the wrong way. Max isn’t—”
“Isn’t what? A murderer?”
“Shh!” Cole looked around, making sure nobody had heard. “Don’t say stuff like that! You could get him in real trouble.”
“Does Chief Brooks know about this?” Aurora asked. “I mean…about Chip’s plans to sell?”
“I don’t know. I certainly didn’t tell him.” Cole looked really uncomfortable now. “Look Aurora, Max and I are good friends. We play basketball twice a week together. Trust me, he is totally innocent. He’s a good guy.”
“A good guy with a pretty big motive,” Aurora said. “We really do need to tell Chief Brooks, Cole.”
“I’m not talking. You can tell him if you like. The only thing that will happen is that you’ll get Max into trouble for no reason, and the real killer will escape,” Cole said. “Don’t do it. I mean, you could lose your new job.”
“That doesn’t bother me.” Aurora bristled. “A man lost his life, Cole. If Max has done something, we ought to tell. If not, well, there will be no harm done.”
“That’s a very black and white way of looking at it,” Cole said. “See, the killer might never be caught. In that case, if Max is innocent, real harm could be done just by casting suspicion on him. His reputation could be blown for no reason at all. In a town this small, losing your reputation is the same thing as losing your job. Nobody would go to Max ever again. I’d think twice before telling anyone if I were you. I know Max, and he’s innocent. Surely he is.”
Unsure what to do, Aurora headed out of the bar with her sandwiches. As she stepped onto the road, as though someone were giving her a sign, heavy rain began pouring onto her.
*****
Chapter 18
Photograph
Aurora could have confronted Max. Perhaps, she thought, someone braver - someone like Joy - would have immediately confronted him. But, personally, she was too hesitant. Opportunities came up all day, perfect openings where she could have asked him about Chip selling the company. But each time she demurred, until she found herself driving home with the same questions still running through her mind.
More and more, she was convincing herself that Chief Brooks must be told. She figured no contract had ever been signed by Chip, since Max didn’t ask her to look for one when he informed her he’d be leaving the office for the rest of afternoon to meet with the New Yorkers. She assumed only a verbal agreement was in place, which meant that there was no paper trail…which meant that the police might never find out. It also meant that Max Goggins, who now had the biggest motive for killing Chip, would remain unsuspected, while Joy’s parents took all the blame.
Cole was right about one thing: whether Max had done it or not, if he found out she had told the police about the potential sale without discussing it with him first, it would likely mean losing her job. Aurora didn’t want to lose her job. More cowardice on her part, she knew. Joy would surely have gone charging ahead and done the right thing without thinking of the consequences. But, well, there it was. Aurora was beginning to have a real soft spot for her new job, her new town, her new home - anything that placed that new life in jeopardy was to be avoided.
Still lost in thought, Aurora entered the house and padded her way upstairs. She opened the door to her room and blinked. At first, she thought she had wandered into the wrong room by mistake. Clothes were strewn everywhere, drawers were open and a suitcase was on the bed with its contents pouring out.
Then the sights before her began to arrange themselves in her brain. That wasn’t just any shirt thrown over the lamp. It was her favorite pink shirt! That was her suitcase lying open on the bed. Her drawers that had been rifled.
And in one corner of the room, holding a paper in her hand, stood Joy Russo, trembling with anger.
“You’ve gone too far this time,” Aurora said. Anger was bubbling up inside her, harsh words rising like a fountain out of her mouth. “I tried. I tried my hardest to be civil with you, but it looks like policemen and lawyers are what you wanted all along. I can’t believe you’ve done this. I can’t believe you’ve broken into my room. MY ROOM!”
Aurora was aware that she was trembling with rage. Beneath the rage, she was aware of an impulse to curl up and cry, but that only made her angrier. “How dare you!” She spat out. “How dare you come in here!”
“How dare I?” Joy shook the piece of paper in her hand. “How dare you! How dare you come here! How dare you pretend like my family meant something to you! All along you’ve been trying your hardest to destroy us!”
“I’ve been…what?” Aurora blinked, anger momentarily vanishing into confusion.
“You! You’re Trevor Sullivan’s daughter. You tried to kill my father!” Joy was walking towards Aurora now with a grim look on her face. Aurora nimbly skipped behind a nightstand, knowing that she’d be no match in a physical fight.
“I think you’re confused,” Aurora said. “Maybe crazy, too.”
“Oh, am I?” Joy snarled. “I found thi
s photo in your suitcase. Or are you going to pretend you’ve never seen it before?”
She thrust the photo forward. It showed a handsome man with a thick jaw and a rather arrogant expression. Aurora’s face held none of his arrogance and, yet, in the cut of the cheekbones, in the sharpness of the forehead, in the way the nose sloped, it was easy enough to make out the familial resemblance.
“Yes.” Aurora looked down at the photo. Her father’s photo. Aurora’s mother had never talked about her father. It was the one area of her life where her mother had given her no answers - a closed door that Aurora had tried her hardest to pry open to no avail. When her mother died, Aurora had gone through all her personal effects hoping for a clue and she’d found nothing except this photo. This one, single photo. Anger coursed through her again. This photo was her one link to her father, and Joy had snatched it from her. “Give me back that photo!” Aurora said, her voice not much more than a snarl.
It was Joy’s turn to look afraid and step back. Aurora found herself surprised. Fear was the last thing she’d expected. She found herself emboldened, though. Reaching forward, she snatched the picture out of Joy’s hand and held it close to her heart.
“Your father’s name was Trevor Sullivan,” Joy said. “But, of course, you know that. You know that he wanted revenge on my family for his sister. How did you do it, Aurora? How did you convince Nonno to put you in his will? Or was that just a coincidence that set the whole plan off in your head? Did you decide to murder my family only after you came here and took over?”
“You’re not making any sense.”
“Oh, yes I am. You meant to shoot my father. Only, you broke into the wrong house and shot Chip instead. Isn’t that right?”
With each word of Joy’s, Aurora felt as though repeated punches were landing on her. After years of not knowing, someone had finally said her father’s name out loud to her…if Joy was correct. Trevor Sullivan. Warmth filled her heart. She had a name. Her instinct to come to Bent River had been right. Secretly, oh so secretly, Aurora had hoped that she’d somehow been related to the Riccis. That Nonno had left her the house because he thought she was his blood. But, even if she were not, that was still alright. Perfectly alright. She had a name now. Trevor Sullivan. A name! Only…why was it so familiar?
“Trevor Sullivan,” she murmured, ignoring Joy’s ranting. “Trevor Sullivan.”
“I knew all along that there was something wrong about this whole situation. My Nonno would never have left a stranger his house. I knew it!” Joy said. “I’m going to expose you now. Your going down! Mark my words! You’d might as well confess everything.”
“Of course!” Aurora snapped her fingers. “The woman who drowned, Uncle Beppe’s true love, was Lauren Sullivan! And Trevor was her brother.” So that’s where she’d heard the name! No wonder it sounded familiar. Aurora felt a bitter irony in the fact that she’d heard about her aunt dying and had never known it was her aunt. And now she had her father’s name, if Joy was right…
What kind of man had he been? What kind of father would he have been? Also, why was she thinking in the past tense. Trevor Sullivan could still be alive! Aurora felt a sudden hope so powerful that it was almost like terror.
But the mention of Lauren’s name seemed to have done something to Joy. Trepidation suddenly flitted over her features. Her eyes darted around the room, almost as though she were expecting someone else to overhear their conversation. Aurora didn’t understand why. It was as if her brain was still downloading all the information bit by bit. But then, suddenly, it all clicked together.
“You think I caused that accident in your uncle’s café? And you think I killed Chip by mistake and really meant to kill your father instead?” Aurora repeated blankly. “All because I’m Trevor Sullivan’s daughter? But why? Why would I care? Unless…” Aurora gasped. Cole’s words about Lauren being Uncle Beppe’s first love and how she’d gotten engaged to Chip instead. The way she died shortly after. Beppe, himself, a living embodiment of guilt.
“Your uncle killed my Aunt Lauren, didn’t he?” Aurora asked. “He killed her. That’s why you think I want revenge. That’s why you’ve made up these stupid theories. It’s all just…paranoia. Because your family is the one that’s really guilty. Isn’t that right? It isn’t just Beppe…there’s others involved. That’s why you think the killer wishes to target the whole family.”
She didn’t have to shout or scream - her words were soft but powerful. Joy shrank under them. She looked almost panic stricken.
“Get out of my way,” Aurora said. “I’m leaving right now. Step out of my way, I said!”
“Look, let’s talk about this,” Joy’s voice was placating now. “Let’s not—”
But it was all too much to handle. Aurora shoved Joy aside and ran from the room. She didn’t know where she would go, only that she had to get as far away from Joy and her entire family as possible. She ran through the living room, tears blurring her vision, and nearly fell as she bumped into a tall figure. Strong hands restrained her and she gasped.
“What do you want from me!?” she pleaded.
*****
Chapter 19
Unexpected Guests
“What do you want from me!?” Aurora cried again, shivering. She blinked up at the person who had blocked her way and gave a desperate glance towards the door. She was trapped.
“Aurora, child, it’s me. Aunt Giulia.” The woman’s voice was soft. “It’s just me. What happened? Why are you trembling?” She put a hand on Aurora’s forehead and mused, “Are you running a fever or something?”
“The only thing I’m running is away from the bunch of you!” Aurora shouted. She looked over her shoulder, wondering whether Joy was going to follow her. The hallway stayed empty. She looked back at the woman who was blocking her way. Aunt Giulia had a white bandage wrapped around her head and a cut on one cheek. She was looking at Aurora with a mixture of pity and curiosity. The front door opened and Joy’s mother walked in.
“What’s wrong?” Maria looked around, confused. “I was parking the car and I heard all the fuss.”
“Nothing. Aurora’s just in need of a bit of coffee, maybe some food. Have you eaten today?” Aunt Giulia asked. “You look weak.”
“I’m fine. I don’t need food.”
“Aurora, why don’t we go to the kitchen?” Aunt Giulia led her by the hand. “Sit down. I’ll make you something.”
“Yes, she does look pale.” Joy’s mother followed them both. “I’ll boil the water, Giulia. You shouldn’t be lifting anything heavy right now. Not even a pot of water.”
Still looking over her shoulder for Joy, Aurora sat down. It was part instant obedience of the matriarchal tone in Aunt Giulia’s voice and part curiosity that made her comply. Joy was an idiot who was throwing accusations around, but that didn’t mean the rest of her family was complicit. Aurora had questions, and she thought perhaps Aunt Giulia and Joy’s mother, Maria, could answer a few of them.
“Alright now.” Aunt Giulia rummaged through the cupboards, found the spaghetti, then paused and looked around the kitchen. “I’ve never seen this place so clean!”
Joy entered the kitchen. Aurora stiffened instantly.
“Hi, Aunt Giulia. Hi, Mom,” Joy said. She looked at Aurora and her eyes were pleading, Please, not now. We can fight later.
Aurora scowled at Joy, but stayed put in her seat. She wouldn’t have done Joy any favors, but Aunt Giulia had been nothing but sweet to her and she didn’t want to be rude. Joy pulled up a chair and sat down next to Aurora. Aurora leaned away from her rather deliberately.
“You’ve cleaned up the kitchen nicely, Joy,” Aunt Giulia said. “Aurora is clearly a wonderful addition. Absolutely wonderful. I remember when I couldn’t even step in here without my stomach turning. But now…your grandmother would be so happy.”
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