The Witness

by Terry Lynn Thomas

  Olivia knew that Melinda and Mark had been high school sweethearts, but she was willing to bet that Mark Engstrom did whatever he wanted, with little regard for his wife.

  The aunts had confided that Mark Engstrom was none too happy with Ebby for hiring Olivia. Would he make a scene at the party? Elodie caught her eye and gave her a thumbs-up gesture of encouragement. The gesture caught the attention of the man standing next to Olivia. He wore hearing aids, but he had the physical bearing of someone much younger. He stared at Olivia for a few seconds, a confused look on his face, as though he couldn’t quite place her. Turning to Elodie, he shouted, “Who is that woman?” just as Mark and Melinda reached the group.

  Olivia heard Elodie say, “That’s Shirley Braithwaite’s daughter, Olivia.”

  Mark cast a glance at Olivia. The fake smile that he had plastered into place slipped away, as he broke away from Melinda and skirted around the outside of the group. Olivia stood her ground, not backing away when Mark moved in close to her.

  “Olivia, we haven’t seen you in a while.”

  “Hello, Mark.”

  “Could I have a word?”

  “Of course,” Olivia said. She turned to Elodie. “Excuse us.”

  Elodie gave her a worried smile as Mark grabbed Olivia’s arm and steered her away from the crowd.

  “Get your hand off me, Mark. Now.” Olivia wrenched herself out of Mark’s grasp and turned to face him. “You have something you want to say to me? Say it.”

  Mark Engstrom gave her another one of his fake smiles. “Forgive me for being forward, Olivia. But my brother is not a healthy man. He is mentally unstable. Making representations you could somehow help him with a thirty-year-old crime, especially in light of his psychiatric condition, could be perceived as an ethics violation of the worst magnitude. Neither Ebby, nor my family, is in need of your legal services. Given your mother’s long-standing relationship with my aunts, I’m asking nicely. Step away from Ebby. Tell him you are too busy to take his case. I’ll pay you for your trouble, just name your price.”

  Olivia forced a convivial tone. “Come on, Mark. You and I both know there’s nothing about Ebby that is remotely unstable.”

  Mark checked to make sure no one was listening to them. “Don’t make me push, Olivia. You don’t want to do battle with me. You’ll never win.”

  “And you have absolutely no grounds or authority to interfere in my relationship with your brother. I’m going to help him. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” Olivia turned to step away, sensing Mark following her.

  “Listen to me. If you don’t back away from my brother and, through association, my family, I’ll make your life hell. I’ll come after you with everything I have. You’re kicking outside your coverage area, Mrs. Sinclair. Step away while you can.”

  Olivia turned around, faced Mark Engstrom, and said in a voice loud enough for others to hear, “Are you threatening me?”

  “These are my friends. You’ll only embarrass yourself if you make a scene. I don’t take prisoners.”

  “Actually, these are Elodie’s friends. And neither do I. Let me be very clear. I will not abandon your brother. I will not discuss his case with you. I will be digging into every member of this family.” Olivia enjoyed the fleeting flash of fear in Mark Engstrom’s eyes and couldn’t resist exploiting it. “Oh, you look like a man with a secret. Afraid of the background check? Your worry intrigues me, Mark. Makes me want to bump you to the top of the suspect pile.” Mark Engstrom’s face turned a mottled shade of red. Olivia gave him a sly smile, pleased that their roles had reversed, that she was the fox and Mark Engstrom was the very fat hen. “Did you know that when I practiced family law, I earned my reputation on my ability to ferret out secrets?”

  Mark kept his face impassive, but there was no denying he’d heard the implied threat loud and clear. “Perhaps we could table our discussion for another time.”

  They were close to the edge of the tent, which was rapidly filling with people, but no one seemed to notice the unfolding scene. Either that, or the guests were too afraid of Mark Engstrom to eavesdrop. Clenching her hands into fists, Olivia stepped so close to Mark Engstrom, her face was but two inches away. “We have nothing to discuss. I’m not afraid of you.”

  “You should be. I’ve brought down more powerful women than you.”

  “Oh, you think you can ruin me?” Olivia laughed. “I’m already ruined. That’s the difference between you and me. I don’t have anything to lose.”

  “You’re a bitch, aren’t you?”

  “I’ve been called worse. Enjoy the party.” Olivia turned her back on Mark Engstrom and walked toward a waiter who carried a tray loaded with glasses of champagne.

  Olivia wondered if she could simply leave, but was pleasantly surprised when she saw Brian Vickery walking up the driveway, looking handsome in a sportscoat and tie, and – blessedly – without Leanne on his arm.

  Her face broke into a smile as she grabbed two flutes of champagne from a waiter and met Brian just outside the tent. “I’m so glad to see you,” she said, handing him a glass.

  “I’m glad to see you too,” Brian said. They clinked glasses and sipped their champagne. “You look a little wound up, if you don’t mind me saying so.”

  “Oh, I just had a bit of a run-in with Mark Engstrom. He tried to tell me to leave Ebby alone.”

  “And?”

  “And nothing. I made my position clear. I don’t kowtow to bullies. Never have. Never will.” They walked back toward Fiona and Elodie who were still mingling outside the tent with their friends. “Do you want me to introduce you to everyone?”

  “Not yet,” Brian said. He stared at the Engstrom house. “Is that where Cynthia’s murder occurred?”

  “It is.”

  “Let’s walk the perimeter. I’d like to get a feel for the place, and you can tell me what the situation was back in the day.” Olivia wrapped her arm through Brian’s, trying to hide the pleasure she felt as they walked arm in arm. I have missed this man, she thought as they scooted around the crowd and walked around the back of the house. The wing where Elodie, Allegra, and Felicity had once lived and had now fallen into decrepit ruin.

  “Wow,” Brian said. “This is surprising. I can’t believe they’ve let the house get like this.”

  “I know. It’s sad. When I was a child there used to be a koi pond out here. That patch of dead grass used to be a swimming pool, and there once were clay tennis courts just beyond those shrubs,” Olivia said.

  The wing was a two-storied rectangle that extended from the main house. The section that faced the mountain had large windows, which were long broken and now boarded up. In places the wooden siding had come off. At the far end, the roof had caved in. Ivy climbed up the walls and into the rafters.

  “It’s a pity, isn’t it?” Olivia said.

  “So who lived in this part of the house?”

  “Okay, let’s see if I can get this straight. Elliot died in June of 1984. That’s the year I graduated from law school. Before Elliot died, Elodie lived here, along with Felicity and her mother, Allegra. Allegra was the Engstroms’ housekeeper, and she lived in.”

  “Do you happen to remember everyone’s alibis?”

  “Only what I heard from my mom,” Olivia said. “Total hearsay.”

  “I don’t care.” Brian stood facing the house. “I won’t hold you to it, but anything you can remember would be appreciated.”

  “Okay,” Olivia said. She stood next to him and also beheld the old structure that used to be so beautiful, so full of life. “Let’s see … Fiona wasn’t here that night. The only people in the house at the time of the murder were Cynthia, who was in the study, Allegra, Elodie, and a very young Felicity. Allegra, Elodie, and Felicity were together at the time of the murder, if memory serves. And Mark was on a ski weekend in Lake Tahoe, so has a solid alibi. Ebby was at a friend’s house before he came home that night.”

  “Got it,” Brian said.

  “Excuse me?
”

  Olivia and Brian turned as Felicity came walking around the corner, still looking harried, clipboard in hand.

  “Oh, Olivia. It’s you. I’m sorry. Mark said someone was trespassing around the back of house.” She tucked her clipboard under her arm as she approached.

  “Felicity, this is Brian Vickery,” Olivia said. “He’s helping with Ebby’s situation.”

  “Oh,” Felicity said. “Nice to meet you.”

  “Hey, Felicity, would you mind talking to us for a minute?” Brian asked.

  “Sure. What do you want to know?”

  “I hear you and your mother lived here at the time of Cynthia’s murder? That was December 1984, right?”

  “It was,” Felicity said. “But we didn’t live here then. We moved out the previous June after Elliot died. My mom got us an apartment. We lived there until she died. I actually inherited it from her and still live there now.”

  “Was your mother at the house the night Cynthia was murdered?”

  Olivia could see the tension creep into Felicity’s shoulders. The housekeeper looked behind her, as if to make sure no one was listening.

  “We won’t repeat anything you say to Mark or Melinda,” Olivia said.

  Felicity nodded. “Okay. My mother and I were both at the house. When we moved, my mother couldn’t find care for me when I wasn’t in school. So when she worked here, I would take the bus and come here after school. On holidays I would just come to work with her.”

  “What would you do all day?” Olivia asked.

  “Read, go for walks, sometimes help my mom.” Felicity smiled. “I had a good childhood, despite the fact that my mother was the hired help.”

  “Would you mind talking to us at the office sometime when you’re not working?”

  “Sure,” Felicity said. “I need to get back now. Would you mind coming with me? We’re sitting down to lunch soon.”

  Olivia and Brian followed Felicity back to the party.

  Chapter 8

  Olivia

  Sunday, January 4

  “Where’s Ebby?” Brian asked as he and Olivia approached the party. Felicity had excused herself, hurrying off to help Melinda.

  Olivia scanned the crowd, surprised that Ebby had yet to make an appearance. “I don’t see him.”

  “You sound worried,” Brian said.

  “I am worried.”

  Just then, Fiona saw Olivia and Brian. She broke away from her group of friends and came walking toward them.

  “You must be Brian Vickery,” Fiona said, extending her hand. “Fiona Engstrom. Pleasure. Come to the tent. We’ve got a table reserved and a spot for the both of you.” When they reached the tent, Fiona turned to Brian and said, “Do you mind if I speak to Olivia privately?”

  “Of course not.” Brian turned to Olivia. “How about I go through the buffet line for both of us?”

  “Sounds great,” Olivia said. “I’m starving.”

  Once Brian was gone, Fiona led Olivia away from the throngs of people. As soon as they were out of earshot, she pulled Olivia close and said, “You should have seen Mark’s face after you spoke to him. What did you say? Never mind. I don’t want to know. You mustn’t pick a fight with him, dear. I know you’re brave and you don’t like being pushed around by men. But Mark’s ruthless.”

  “I don’t give in to bullies,” Olivia snapped, moving away from Fiona. “I simply stood up to him.”

  “Mark isn’t used to anyone questioning him. He’s one of those men who like to be in control.” Fiona cocked her head and stared into Olivia’s eyes. “You’re not the least bit afraid of him, are you?”

  “No. Forgive me for being forward, Fiona, but your nephew’s a coward. And I’d bet money that he abuses his wife.”

  “Always has. Poor thing covers herself up to hide the bruises.” Fiona patted Olivia’s arm. “You are very perceptive, my dear. But you need to be careful with Mark,” Fiona added. “I know he’s an egomaniacal fool, but he’s a bit desperate. And you know as well as I do that desperation can make a man do strange things.”

  “I won’t underestimate him. I have a pretty good idea what I’m dealing with here.”

  The tent was now full of guests. Olivia was no longer in the mood for a party, but she allowed Fiona to lead her to the table, which had been reserved for Elodie, while Brian chatted up the people in the buffet line. Once they were seated, a waiter came round with yet another glass of champagne. Olivia was glad when Brian returned. She was hungry and needed food to soak up the continual flow of champagne that had gone down so smoothly.

  “This looks good,” Olivia said. “I’m hungry.”

  “I always like a woman with a healthy appetite,” Brian said.

  Soon everyone was seated and the conversation turned into a subtle background murmur that Olivia found soothing.

  Although Elodie had led them to believe that most of the guests were Mark’s business associates, many of the people came to Elodie with hugs and birthday wishes. Olivia recognized a handful of well-known artists, who knew Elodie from her involvement with the Marin Arts Council, and the tireless energy she put into raising money in support of the arts. While lunch was served, friends stopped by to chat with Elodie, as Fiona regaled Olivia and Brian with stories of the Engstrom sisters’ misspent youth. She was surprised to find she was actually enjoying herself, despite Mark’s earlier threats and the niggling worry about Ebby, who still hadn’t made an appearance.

  When lunch was finished and the plates cleared away, a huge cake was brought to the center of the room with eighty-five candles on it. After a rousing, off-key rendition of happy birthday, Elodie blew out all eighty-five candles in two breaths.

  When someone yelled, “Speech!” one of the musicians handed Elodie a microphone.

  Brian leaned into Olivia and said, “Should we go to Ebby’s cottage and find out why he isn’t here?”

  “Do you think we can tactfully slip away?” Olivia whispered back.

  Elodie took the proffered microphone and moved to the center of the dance floor, facing her guests. “If you insist on a speech, I’ll be glad to comply.”

  “The speeches go on and on. Let’s wait until Elodie is finished speaking. When she’s finished, her friends will get up and talk about her. We can slip away then.”

  Brian put his arm along the back of Olivia’s chair as Elodie moved to the center of the room and addressed the crowd like a pro. “First of all, I want to thank each and every one of you for being here to celebrate with me. I believe that family comes first, and although I’m meeting some new faces today, you’re a delightful bunch and I’m glad to share this day with you. Earlier I was reflecting on this particular birthday, and the memories of those who aren’t with me came flooding into my thoughts. I’m not going to get maudlin, but—”

  Elodie stopped speaking as her eyes opened wide with shock. Next to her, Olivia heard Brian say, “Oh, dear God.” She turned around to see Ebby standing in the back opening of the tent. He wore a suit jacket and khaki trousers. The sleeve of the jacket had been ripped and it hung on his arm. The shirt under the jacket was unbuttoned and splattered with blood, likely from the open gash on his cheek. His trousers had a hole in the knee and he was missing a shoe. A sheen of perspiration glistened on his pale face, and his bloodshot eyes darted around the room.

  A hush fell over the room as every single person turned to face Ebby. Olivia caught a glimpse of Mark at a table on the far side of the tent. “What the hell,” he snapped, as he threw his napkin on the table and started to stand.

  “I’m so sorry,” Ebby cried out, and Olivia recognized a tone of desperation. “But I need to confess. I murdered my mother.”

  Quick as lightning, Brian was out of his chair and by Ebby’s side.

  Olivia said to Fiona, “Tell Elodie to keep everyone in here. We’ll take care of Ebby.”

  Fiona grabbed Olivia’s arm, “What are you going to do?”

  “Get him to a hospital.”

&n
bsp; “Good,” Fiona said. She hurried over to Elodie and whispered in her ear.

  Out of the corner of her eye, Olivia saw Mark hurrying toward his brother. Brian had put an arm around Ebby and was leading him away from the crowd. Olivia, by virtue of her location, was able to reach Ebby’s side well ahead of Mark. She also put an arm around him and together they led Ebby away.

  “Olivia.” Ebby’s voice broke when he saw her.

  “Ebby, look at me.” When Ebby met Olivia’s eyes, she said, “Where have you been? What happened to you?”

  “When I remembered killing – killing my mother—” Ebby started to sob.

  “Ebby, listen to me. You didn’t kill your mother. Tell me how you cut your cheek? And what happened to your other shoe?”

  “When I had the vision – it was so real – I ran outside. I remember running into the woods, just running and running.” Ebby moaned, as he closed his eyes. “I did it, Olivia. God help me. I killed her.”

  “He’s having a breakdown,” Brian said. “He needs medical attention quick.”

  Felicity came around the corner of the tent holding a cigarette. When she saw Ebby, she tossed it to the ground, stamped it out, and came running.

  “He needs an ambulance,” Olivia said.

  “I’ll call for one. Let’s take him to the front of the house.” Felicity reached in her pocket for her cell phone and dialed 9-1-1 with shaking hands.

  Olivia nodded.

  Behind them, Olivia could hear Elodie speaking to the crowd, her voice surprisingly calm and measured. “My nephew has been having some difficulty. If you could honor my wishes and stay seated, I’ll get the waiters to top off your champagne. Let me tend to my family, and I’ll be right back with my speech. Where’s my nephew? Mark? Mark, come up here and entertain these people. Tell them jokes or something. I’ll be right back.”