by Beth Byers
“Why?” Violet demanded. “Why would she always choose him?”
“She’s capricious, but she favors him simply because he looks like Father. Her husband, you know.”
“Do you think it’s as simple as that?”
“No, of course I don’t. I think that Mother is damaged in her heart and soul and she’s poison because of it. Spewing poison recklessly and out of control. It’s not her fault, and it’s also her fault.”
Vi couldn’t help but laugh but what surprised her was the laugh was echoed by Mrs. Watkins. “I’m sorry,” Violet said gently, using that same tone she’d used with the woman’s mother.
“It’s oddly all right,” Mrs. Watkins said. “I suppose it’s rather a relief to have someone look at me and not assume I am a bad daughter because I have distanced myself from my mother.”
“I don’t think you’re a bad daughter,” Violet replied truthfully, reaching out to squeeze Mrs. Watkins’s hand. “I think you’re a good mother, and your children are so blessed that you decided to not be the next version of her, but to…to…break the chain and let them be something else entirely.”
Mrs. Watkins nodded.
“Can you tell us anything about Jason’s friends, the Tappers?”
Mrs. Watkins paused and then said, “They’re just another set of his victims who love him too much to push him away. If anyone has a right to hate them a little bit, it’s those two, but they don’t. They seem to dig out love and forgiveness for him more easily than anyone.”
Violet’s mouth twisted and then she asked, “Do you have their address?”
“I do,” Mrs. Watkins said. “I’ll get it for you before you go. Do you have any other questions?”
“What about his father, your brother?” It was Jack who asked, but they were both the recipients of a surprised expression.
Mrs. Watkins’s face smoothed over and her expression became even. “It’s harder for him than anyone. He’s done what he can.”
“Does your mother have so much money that she can just…endlessly supply him with it?”
Mrs. Watkins shook her head. “I don’t know how she’s doing it. I suspect we’ll find she’s in debt when she finally passes. Or she’ll run out of money, and one of us will have to take her in.”
Violet could imagine how that might feel when the day arrived.
“One thing I can tell you for certain,” Violet said, leaning in, “is that if your children are like you, they are not tepid.”
Mrs. Watkins sniffed and then to Vi’s surprise, the older woman dabbed a tear away in the same manner as her mother. Violet couldn’t help but wonder which of them was the actress. Or perhaps, Violet thought, they were both in earnest. Channeling the emotions they were feeling in the moment and believing what they were saying at the time. Violet squeezed her hands and when Jack finished asking questions, they rose to leave.
“Jack,” Violet said, shaking her head. “Never let me describe our children as tepid.”
He laughed, dispelling the empathy Violet was feeling. “They’ll be yours, Vi. My children might have ended up tepid. But yours will be telling tales of wolves in the walls, sliding down the banisters, and probably setting things on fire. We’ll be pulling out our hair and collapsing in a heap while they continue to rain destruction down, skipping over our exhausted forms.”
Violet paused and then nodded. She really had been a horrible child. Jack, however, Vi could see as being a quiet little boy who had probably been gentle and kind and far, far too observant.
“I like the idea of a little you,” Violet told him simply and leaned against his arm.
Chapter 7
In the morning, they checked on Rita again. Her color had fully restored and she walked with a spring in her step. Jack disappeared into the office with Ham while Vi followed Rita to the parlor and sighed into a cup of coffee.
“Are you all right?” Vi asked, unable to keep herself from asking.
“I am.” Rita crossed her fingers over her heart. “I feel well even though Ham won’t stop feeling my head.”
“As in a fever?” Violet demanded. “Like the baby is making you ill?”
“He just doesn’t know what to do,” Rita said with a bit of a laugh. “It’s kind of—”
“Suffocating?” Vi asked.
Rita nodded and then muttered, “He feels my pulse too.”
Vi rose and started straightening their parlor. She couldn’t help herself as she stacked the books and then fluffed the pillows.
“Would you stop?” Rita demanded.
“No.” Vi arranged the little bric-a-brac over the mantle and then lifted a brass sheep. “This is horrible.”
“It came with the house. We must find decor of our own before those sheep murder me in my sleep.”
Vi laughed and then admitted, “When I had bad dreams, before Jack and I married, I couldn’t sleep without his heartbeat. I had bad dreams endlessly because of all the bodies and…” Vi winced.
“I have bad dreams, too,” Rita admitted.
“Even now,” Vi said, “I sleep on the side by his heart, so I can hear it while I fall asleep.”
“Well, you still have bad dreams,” Rita told Vi.
Their gazes met and Rita nodded once. It was all they needed.
“You’re better at hiding them now,” Rita suggested.
“So are you,” Vi suggested.
“It’s always Ham in my dreams.”
“Those dreams will change to be about your baby when he arrives,” Vi said, giving her friend the horrible truth that they both feared. “It’s who we feel the need to protect. Our most vulnerable. For me, it’s the twins and Lily. Soon it will be little Ham Junior.”
Rita sighed. “I shall have to start listening to Ham’s heart then. And, perhaps, forgive him for the whole pulse checking thing.”
“You don’t think I’m odd then?”
“That,” Rita told Vi fiercely, “is the sweetest, most tender thing I have ever heard.”
“More tender,” Vi asked, “than Ham feeling your head or seeking out your pulse?”
Rita frowned. “I do feel suffocated. I’m an adventuress. I traveled the world without Ham and women have been bearing babies for centuries.”
Neither of them commented on how many women didn’t make it through.
Vi suddenly laughed and then laughed harder, somehow giddy in the truth of their fears. There was also, however, a touch of a crow in her near-hysterics.
“You think this is funny?” Rita asked. “Wait until it’s you. Jack is as—if not more—protective than Ham.”
Vi winced and then leaned in, whispering just in case Jack and Ham had stopped with their conspiring and come to find Rita and Vi. “Maybe for the next round of babies. We might need to wait until Jack sees everyone handle becoming a father and the risks that go with it. That way I won’t have to suffocate him when he becomes paranoid and worried over every little thing.”
Rita laughed and then grew thoughtful. “This case with the grandson. You need to talk to those friends of his. That’s the next bit. If it were you acting oddly or disappearing, we’d have the best idea of what was happening with you. Victor probably would, but he’s your twin. Not even Isolde would know since she spends so much time taking care of poor Tomas, and she’s your next closest relative.”
Violet grinned. “I tell her everything in letters.”
“We should plan a trip together,” Rita suggested. “Somewhere that Isolde and Tomas will be comfortable.”
Vi nodded. “Well, I suppose we should go talk to these poor friends of Jason’s.”
Rita started to nod and then glanced up when Ham and Jack walked into the room. Vi watched as Ham crossed to his wife, lifting her hand to kiss it before surreptitiously taking her pulse. The two women grinned at each other and then Rita said, “You need Vi for the Tapper sister. Vi may well be the only way to get her to speak.”
Vi snorted since Rita wasn’t even trying to hide her attempt to
make Jack let her investigate as well, and given the expression on Jack’s face, he hadn’t intended to leave Vi behind regardless. Vi changed the subject, asking Ham, “But what did you find out from the brother-in-law of Mrs. Meyers?”
Ham shook his head and then sighed, sliding down to sit next to his wife, though never letting go of her wrist.
“Ham,” Violet snapped for Rita. “Stop taking her pulse. Use your eyes. Her cheeks are pink and healthy, she’s not wincing from pain, she clearly has energy. I thought you were an investigator.”
Ham scowled and eyed Vi darkly.
She gave him a cheery grin and a wink and then turned her gaze to Jack, who seemed to be examining Rita just as Vi had suggested.
“But what did you find out about the brother-in-law?” Vi pressed Ham.
“He despises his sister-in-law. Always has. He swore that the worst and most life-ruining choice of his brother’s life was marrying Bertha Meyers.”
“And the grandson?” Vi asked, suddenly thinking how very glad she was that she’d been far more careful in her choice of a spouse.
Ham shook his head while he slid his fingers down Rita’s wrist to hold her hand instead. “He has nothing good to say about the grandson, Jason. He likes the other grandchildren. He likes the daughter that you two met. Did you like her as well?”
Jack and Vi looked at each other and Vi answered. “I suppose we noticed that both mother and daughter reacted similarly. Is it because they’re versions of each other and both actresses? Or is it because the habits of the elder naturally migrated to the younger? I liked Mrs. Watkins much more, but I think I might be inclined towards believing an unloved daughter.”
“It’ll be interesting to see how the friends measure up,” Ham said. “Are you sure that you don’t want me to come?”
Jack shook his head. “We agreed that you should speak to Jason’s siblings if you can. We’ve established he’s a scoundrel, but where could he be? It’s very possible that he’s been able to convince one of his siblings or these Tappers to give him somewhere to stay.”
“It’s interesting that she wants to know her grandson’s location. Why?” Rita scrunched up her nose. “Surely, he’ll just come back when he runs out of money like he’s done so many times before.”
“That is a good question,” Ham told her, his fingers slowly, almost helplessly making their way back to her wrist.
Vi met Ham’s gaze, lifted a brow, and then, ignoring the way he was taking Rita’s pulse again, said, “Smith did say that he thought there was something funny about this case.”
“Smith?” Ham growled.
Vi laughed and her giggle was echoed by Rita’s. “Don’t bother. Rita and I were just as responsible for what happened in that pub. What I am saying is that Smith met this woman, right?”
Jack nodded. “He did. He was busy, and he referred her to Ham and me. Do you think she’s up to something?”
“Why would she be up to something?” Ham countered. He had the look of a man who was still irritated with Vi. They had the relationship of siblings, and given the look Vi was receiving, they were on the road to a small feud.
Violet followed Jack up the steps to Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Tapper’s house. Their children had agreed to meet with Jack today, but when they arrived, they weren’t there.
“I’m so sorry,” Mrs. Tapper said. “They’ve gone.”
The woman looked sorry. Her manners were demanding she apologize, and Vi guessed Mrs. Tapper was upset to be in this position. Violet tried to smile as she met the woman’s gaze. She had pretty green eyes and golden hair that was fading a little. Was her daughter as lovely as this woman? If so, Vi could understand why someone as self-absorbed as Jason Meyers would never quite let Miss Tessa Tapper go.
“I wonder,” Violet said with a commiserating grin as she hoped her thoughts didn’t show through, “if you can tell us if you’ve seen Jason Meyers?”
The woman’s face sealed over and Vi made a bet with herself that Jason’s grandmother wasn’t the only woman led on by him. “People are looking for him.” Vi said it as though she knew all too well that it was the authorities who were looking for Jason Meyers.
Mrs. Tapper’s gaze narrowed, unimpressed with the statement. “I’ve tried that angle.”
“Have you?” Violet asked. “The constables turned you away?”
“They can’t arrest you for giving money to someone willingly.”
Vi didn’t look doubtful, but she felt doubtful. Did the Tappers give their money willingly or were they lied to? Certainly if they’d been misled, something could be done? It felt that way in her heart at least.
Violet shook her head. “The injustice of it! It’s just…it’s just unacceptable.”
“Do you know my Tessa’s marriage fell apart because of that fiend? He doesn’t want to commit, but he doesn’t want anyone else to have her either.”
“Oh,” Vi nearly snarled. “No. That’s not fair. She can’t spend her life on hold for him.”
“She can’t, you’re right. What little money she had, he’s slithered away from her. He doesn’t love her. If he did, he would have married her, but she’s avoided him.”
“I wonder,” Vi started but the woman shook her head.
“I don’t have to talk to you. You can’t do anything for Tessa, who’s ruined her life, or Ted, who is a good but blindly loyal friend. They’re not here, and they don’t have to talk to you.”
Violet glanced at Jack, who said, “You’re right. They don’t. You don’t either, but Mrs. Tapper, if we can find Jason and prove that he’s been scamming your children, you might have a recourse.”
“And then what? I’ll alienate my children, and you’ll be unable to get the money back for them. That only makes things worse for me.”
Violet met the woman’s gaze and nodded. “You’re right.”
Mrs. Tapper started to close the door to her home, but Violet cleared her throat, placing a hand on the door. “Unless of course, we can help you prove to your children that Jason Meyers doesn’t care about them and isn’t their friend.”
Mrs. Tapper paused long enough that Vi was certain she wanted Jason Tapper to pay. Violet pinned the woman with a pointed look. “You could help with that. If you could make him suffer consequences…real ones…I’d help you.”
Violet took Jack’s hand and squeezed it, hoping he’d understand that she didn’t want him to speak. Mrs. Tapper glanced between them and then finally relented. “If I were looking for my son, I’d be inclined to visit the Golden Unicorn near the docks.”
Jack squeezed Vi’s hand in return and nodded once at Mrs. Tapper.
“He took my son’s savings account,” she told them. “The money he got from his grandmother. It wasn’t a lot, but it would have given him a good start. It was for an investment, but he never even invested. Jason did nothing but lie and then take it and use it for his own ends.”
When they were walking to the auto, Jack said, “Our job is just to find Meyers. Not to bring him to justice.”
“That’s all right,” Vi said giving him a wicked grin. “I’ll be the one who turns over any evidence we find to Ham’s favorite constable.”
Jack scoffed, but she knew he wouldn’t stop her. He opened the door to the auto and she slid inside, knowing that she could ruin his fledgling career with what she intended to do, and she’d probably do it anyway. The key, she told herself, was not to get caught so it couldn’t be tied to Jack.
Chapter 8
Victor threw himself on the bed in Violet’s bedroom, ignoring Jack shaving his face in the bath.
“Sister.” Victor crossed his ankles, carefully keeping his shoes off her bed since she’d trained him to never let his shoes on her bed long, long ago.
“Brother,” Vi countered, flopping down next to him. She elbowed him lightly and then laughed when her dogs leapt onto the bed to lick his face frantically.
Around the wagging tails and cold noses, he met her gaze. “I need you.”
“What did you do?”
“Me?” he gasped, placing his hand over his heart, fluttering his lashes. “Me?”
Jack exited the bath, his towel around his neck, and he eyed the twins.
“He’s definitely trying to pull you into trouble,” Jack said.
“I pull him into trouble,” Violet announced. “Go be productive. Victor and I are going to adventure.”
“Engage in hijinks,” Victor suggested, waggling his brows.
“Delve into shenanigans,” Violet said and then laughed when Jack tossed his shaving towel at both of them.
“Stay out of jail,” he proclaimed.
“We cannot make promises we’ll be unable to keep.” Violet pushed up on her elbows and eyed her husband. She glanced at Victor. “He’s rather handsome.”
Jack rolled his eyes while Victor said, “He’s a thundering oaf.”
“Oaf?” Jack asked silkily. “You’re the oaf.”
“I’m the bumbling fool,” Victor said.
There was something in his tone that had the edge of truth.
“Uh oh,” Vi cooed. She patted her twin on the head. “It’ll be all right, little love. Vi will take care of everything.”
Victor groaned and dropped his head back.
“I don’t know.” Jack laughed as he put his hat on his head and then looked at the two of them. “This feels like more trouble than Vi going off with Smith.”
“Careful now,” Victor said, his arm over his eyes. “I took care of Vi for at least three days of our early life before she took over.”
“Ha!” Vi mocked. “It was me. Me! I ran things from the earliest. In the womb even, the front was the best location. Everyone knows the spine half of the womb is second place, barely worth mentioning.”
