Murder in Hillsboro

by Jane T O'Brien

  “Your mother worries about you the way my mother worries about me,” said Stephanie when the girls settled in Molly’s room.

  “We are lucky, Steph, who knows what could have happened to us as babies being left in the hands of strangers. I know my mother is overprotective but I’m glad she and Dad are in my life.”

  “They handled our news well. I’m not sure how my mom will take it. She has lived in fear for years I’d be taken away from her. She still thinks of me as her little girl and will until I’m a senior citizen.”

  “If you want to tell her without me, I understand. It might be a shock if she sees us together before you can warn her about me.”

  “No, Molly, we’re in this together. I will call Dad to tell him about my big sister or little sister; I wonder which one of us was born first?”

  The next morning, a tearful Beverly Ryan hugged both Molly and Stephanie goodbye. “I’ve packed chocolate chip cookies for you if you get hungry on the way to Mills Crossing. Tell your mother I’d like to call her if she is up to it, I’d like to talk to her about our girls.”

  “I’m sure she will want to talk to you too, Mrs. Ryan, after the shock wears off. Thank you for your hospitality, I know we will see each other again soon.”

  “I like your folks, Molly, maybe our birth mother did us a favor by dumping us where we were welcomed. Not that I agree with what she did.”

  “Do you resent her, Steph?”

  “Yes and no, I never cared much about her until I met you. I’m curious now because I have someone in my life who looks like me, it puts a face on the woman who didn’t care enough about me to make sure I was in a good home.”

  “I know what you mean; I was young, but I can still remember the day my parents told me how I showed up in the church. I thought it was cool my mom and dad wanted me to be their kid. I pictured an angel gently placing me in the cradle and sending Mom and Dad to the church that day. Mom told me one time she didn’t want to go to services because of a snowstorm but Dad said they could make it through the snow. I’m grown now and wonder about the woman who gave birth to me. Was she too young to be a mother? Did she give herself to a young boy she thought she loved? Who is our father? Did he know about us? Maybe he was a rapist, I hope not, but it is possible.”

  “That thought has crossed my mind too. It makes me question whether we want to investigate our birth, we might discover something we don’t want to know.”

  Stephanie called her father to let him know of her arrival with Molly. When she disconnected the call, she said: “He doesn’t believe me, I could tell by his voice. He promised he would tell my mom we are coming but I don’t know if he will soften the blow for her.”

  They arrived shortly after lunch. Jack Anderson greeted his daughter with a big hug. He watched as Molly got out of the driver’s side of the car and his mouth flew open.

  “Stephanie, you weren’t imagining things, you two could be twins. I’m afraid I didn’t warn your mother, I said you were bringing a friend with you. She is sure it’s a man, and that’s what I thought too when you called.”

  “Dad, I told you I thought Molly was my sister. How did you get a man out of our conversation?”

  “You know your mother and I want you to find a nice fellow to marry. I’m sorry, Molly, where are my manners, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Shall we go in the house?”

  “Daddy, you make me sound desperate, I’ve told you and Mom I enjoy being single, please stop embarrassing me with talk of marrying me off. You don’t pester Jeff about getting married and he’s over thirty.”

  Molly smiled, her mother was the same way about her marital status. It was easier with Ted already married and Mark in a serious relationship, her mother worried Molly would find no one to spend her life with.

  Molly dated occasionally and was in a serious relationship at one time. There was never a big blow-up, they simply drifted apart. Molly was content with her life but thought it would be nice to have someone special. When she celebrated her twenty-fifth birthday, it occurred to her she had reached a milestone and she might never find Mr. Right.

  Margie Anderson hurried out the front door. “Stephanie dear is everything all right, we didn’t expect you today,” She stopped in her tracks when she saw Molly. “Who are you and what do you want?”

  “Mom, calm down, this is my friend Molly Ryan, I know it’s a shock, we were shocked when we met too. Molly’s all right, we think we might be twin sisters.”

  “Margie, it will be fine, let’s all go inside, you’ll have a cup of tea and we can talk to the girls.”

  Chapter Four

  One Week Earlier…

  “I don’t know why you’re going to the stupid wedding, Candace. You hardly know the cripple although it’s your fault she’s in that wheelchair,” said Grayson Conway. Grayson and Candace Conway are the grandchildren of Hamilton Grayson Beresford, the esteemed United States senator. Senator Beresford, elected over thirty years earlier, is a steadfast member of Congress who is revered by his peers and constituents alike. In private, he can be a cold, unyielding man who demands impeccable behavior in his wife, daughter, and grandchildren.

  Hamilton’s daughter, Avery Beresford Conway is running for the congressional seat vacated by Hamilton’s longtime friend, Congressman Harold Bryson who is retiring from public life.

  Avery’s relationship with her husband is cordial, if not passionate. Charles Conway is the son of a prominent Philadelphia family and was selected by Hamilton. He is one of the senator’s biggest disappointments.

  Hamilton insisted Charles move to Hillsboro after his marriage to Avery. Charles gave up his place in the family business and never worked another day in the twenty years since his marriage to Avery.

  The marriage is one of convenience and because of her indifference, Avery will ignore his infidelities if he is discreet. Charles attempted to bond with his children when they were young, but he felt awkward and uncomfortable in his role as a father.

  “Shut up Gray, I care nothing about this wedding. I haven’t seen Elizabeth since her release from the rehabilitation facility. I must know what she remembers about the accident.”

  “You know the doctors said she would never remember. Don’t tell me Candace Conway is feeling pangs of guilt.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, I have nothing to feel guilty about. Elizabeth was with my boyfriend that night. I had every right to run her off that bridge. Nobody steals from Candace Conway and gets away with it.”

  Grayson felt a chill go through his body, he doubted his sister had a soul, she was the nearest thing to evil that he’d ever known. Because she told him about the events of that night, he watched his back around her.

  Avery Conway is a beautiful woman, unfortunately, her daughter didn’t inherit her good looks. Avery is a cold woman today, by anyone’s standards but she wasn’t always that way. As a child, she was vivacious and loving. She was raised by her nanny while her mother attended social functions and political events. Her mother, Alexis Beresford is in awe of her husband and afraid of him at the same time. She knows her behavior and that of her daughter must remain above reproach or she will suffer the consequences.

  Candace sat in the church watching Brad Carpenter standing at the altar waiting for Elizabeth to be wheeled down the aisle. How did Elizabeth end up with a hunk like him? It’s not fair, she gets a cute guy and I sit here alone. Candace noticed the people sitting in the pews in front of her were looking to the groom’s side of the church. Candace turned her head and saw two pretty women being escorted to their seats. She could feel twinges of jealousy as she watched the blonde. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the brunette sitting next to her. It can’t be!

  The ceremony continued, she watched Elizabeth walk down the aisle, and helped into her wheelchair. Candace knew vows were being said but didn’t hear the words. The music played as the bride and groom kissed and came back up the aisle. She clapped along with everyone else, but she was in a daze through it all.
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br />   “Candace, I’m happy to see you again,” said Elizabeth as she greeted her guests at the door.

  “I’m glad you are doing well, Elizabeth,” Candace answered with a cheerfulness she didn’t feel.

  “I’ll talk to you about your mother’s campaign at the reception, I hope you are planning to be there to help us celebrate.”

  “I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Candace said in a syrupy sweet tone.

  The reception was well underway before Candace glimpsed the brunette again. She was dancing with several men as Candace sat alone at a back table watching her.

  Is it possible after all these years? According to Mother’s diary, the twins were separated and taken far away from each other. Grandmother took one to a firehouse and left it on the doorstep. It was wintertime, the baby must have frozen to death. The nanny took the other one. She was supposed to leave it at the front door of the church. The stupid woman took it inside and put it in a cradle on the altar. She confessed to Mother on her deathbed, the old woman’s heart gave out after she got rid of the kid. That tramp over there must be the one who was left in the church. She’s younger but looks exactly like Mother.

  Candace knew she had to decide what to do. The girl was her sister, but she had no desire to meet her or know anything about her life. It was hard enough having a brother who shared her grandfather. Candace had no feelings for her father. He was a buffoon with no ambition. She admired and idolized her grandfather. She often dreamed that he would be elected president someday and she would live in the White House. She would be the envy of every young girl in the country. She would be invited to all the wonderful parties and have men swarming around her. In her daydream, Grayson would be sent off to serve his country overseas and never come home. What would happen if the brunette told Grandfather she was his granddaughter too?

  Her thoughts were depressing her when she looked up and saw two of them walk into the reception area together. They both lived? How can that be? I’m doomed, they are beautiful; how can I compete with two of them?

  Candace left the reception driving home by the lake. I’ll run their car off the road like I did with Elizabeth. I might get caught this time. Poison would be good; I could find someone who sells it. Maybe I’ll hire a hitman to shoot them. The more she thought about how to get rid of them, the better she felt. It will work out fine, Grandfather will never acknowledge his bastard granddaughters and Mother will be banished from his life.

  When Candace was a ten-years-old, she snooped in her mother’s closet and came across her old diaries. She gathered them and hid them under her bed. Most were boring, Mother was a perfect child until the day she met Jonathan Malloy. Jonathan was a year older than Avery and worked as a fry cook at a hamburger joint in town. Avery’s mother allowed her to go to town with her friends for an hour after school and on Saturdays. Avery promised not to tell her father knowing he would put a stop to it. He didn’t want Avery to be with anyone he didn’t approve of and the kids who hung around that shop were not acceptable to the senator.

  At sixteen, Avery was a beauty, Jonathan was attracted to her at first sight. The feeling was mutual, and they fell in love. Avery told her nanny about meeting the boy she wanted to marry. Nanny Emma tried to discourage her from seeing Jonathan because her father would never approve.

  “I love him, Nanny, I want to marry him someday. He loves me too. He’s saving money to go to college and we will be together forever.”

  Emma knew what Avery felt was puppy love, she had been there herself and knew not to discourage her by telling her feelings change.

  Avery’s mother sheltered her, but she wasn’t ignorant about sex. Her friends all talked about it and she thought she knew everything there was to know. She told her mother she was going to a sleepover at Jenny Norton’s house. It was true, Jenny was having a slumber party that night and when Alexis Beresford called to ask about the party Jenny’s mother confirmed it. Twenty-five girls had been invited and Jenny’s mother never caught on that there were only twenty-four in attendance.

  George, the Beresford’s chauffeur drove Avery to Jenny’s house, but she never went inside. Instead, she hid behind a potted plant on the porch until she saw George drive away. Jonathan picked her up around the block. They drove to a secluded area in the park. Jonathan kissed her and before long they had gone farther than either one expected and found they didn’t want to stop.

  Shame overtook Avery after giving herself to Jonathan and she begged him to take her home. She would tell her mother she was feeling sick and left the slumber party. It wasn’t a total lie; she did feel sick. She was afraid her father would find out what she’d done, and she couldn’t face his scorn.

  Jonathan was heartbroken when Avery broke it off with him. She refused to see him or answer his calls, eventually, he graduated and went off to college without ever knowing she was carrying his babies.

  Nanny Emma was the first to suspect Avery was expecting. Although as a teenager, Avery didn’t need a nanny, Emma was kept on at the Beresford residence as a companion for Avery and because Avery begged to have her stay.

  By the beginning of Avery’s fifth month, it was more than obvious she was pregnant. Her mother, usually oblivious to her daughter, questioned her weight gain. Nanny worried about Avery’s condition and told Mrs. Beresford of her suspicions.

  “That’s not possible, Avery would never do such a thing. What a vicious thing to say, Emma. It’s time you packed your belongings.”

  “No, Mother, don’t fire Nanny, I think she’s right,” Avery cried as she walked into the study.

  “Avery, what have you done? Who is the boy? Did he force himself on you? Your father will have his head and mine too for letting this happen.”

  “It’s my fault, Mother, I loved him and wanted him to make love to me.”

  “Avery, that’s terrible talk, I didn’t raise you to be that kind of girl. I’m calling Doctor Sloan. He will put an end to this now.”

  “No, Mother, you can’t let Doc kill my baby, I’ll change its diapers and feed it, Nanny will help me, won’t you Nanny?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, Avery. We can’t let your father know what you’ve done. What if the press got wind of this? Your father’s reputation is at stake; he could lose his ranking in the Senate because of your horrid behavior. You make me sick. Leave me alone while I call Doc Sloan.”

  Avery did as her mother told her, she ran to her bedroom and sobbed on the bed until Nanny Emma came to tell her the doctor was waiting for her in the parlor.

  “Alexis, I insist Avery come to my office for a complete examination. I’ll plan to see her at seven o’clock tomorrow morning. My nurse will assist me; she is discreet and can be trusted to keep this quiet. I’m afraid Avery is too far along in her pregnancy to consider abortion. There are fine homes in the area for girls like her. I will give you a list of the facilities.”

  “Avery, do you understand the trouble you have caused? I can’t let you go to a public place to wait out that baby. It’s a risk we can’t afford to take. You will stay upstairs in the attic until the baby is born. We will figure out what to do with it. Luckily your father is in Washington most of the time and won’t know what you have done.”

  Avery’s guilt and shame festered in her for the next four months. She hated her mother and missed seeing her father. He was home during the Thanksgiving break and didn’t know his daughter was in the attic. He was annoyed that she wasn’t home for the holiday but spent most of his time on the telephone in his study.

  He would be home again for Christmas and Alexis Beresford insisted Doc induce labor, so the baby would be born in early December.

  “Alexis, I know this is something you don’t want to hear, Avery is having twins.”

  “Two babies, that’s repulsive. Nobody in our circle has two babies at one time. Avery, how many times did you give yourself to that boy?”

  “Calm down, Alexis,” said Doc, “I’m trying to tell you the babies will be born soon, my gu
ess is within a day or two. I will alert Social Services to their impending birth, they will come by to take them to their foster care families.”

  “No, Doc, I’ll arrange for a quiet adoption, now I have two babies to worry about. I don’t want Social Services involved and I don’t want there to be a record of their birth, do you understand me?”

  “I understand, Alexis but I must comply with the law. I’ll enter a false name for the mother and that’s the best I can do.”

  “I can’t wait until this nightmare is over,” said Alexis.

  Afraid she couldn’t hide Avery from her husband; Alexis flew to Washington to join the senator at the many holiday parties that were scheduled during the next two weeks.

  Avery went into labor the following evening and delivered the twin girls twelve hours later. Nanny assisted in the births and put the babies in Avery’s arms.

  Nanny called Alexis’s hotel suite several times during the week after the twins’ birth. Alexis was too busy shopping and attending parties to return the calls.

  “Emma, why didn’t you call me when Avery went into labor?”

  “I’m sorry ma’am, I was busy comforting the girl. She was scared. I called after the babies were born but you never returned the call or the others I made while you were gone.”

  “Why did you let her see them? Look at her, she’s grown attached to them and now I must take them away.”

  “I know that ma’am, Avery wanted to hold them and I couldn’t say no.”

  “You are an idiot. We can’t waste any more time. I know you don’t drive so George will drive you to Newberry. It’s one hundred miles away from Hillsboro. The baby will be in a basket; George won’t know it’s there, and you had better pray the brat sleeps through the ride. I’m holding you responsible if he finds out about this.”