by Amy Saunders
“We already told Alex we were coming.”
Belinda glanced back. “That’s not what I mean.”
“I know.” Bennett leaned forward, guiding her eyes back to his. “I am here because of you–by choice. I don’t want it any other way. Now, come on. Alex may be able to help us out.”
Belinda still felt apprehensive, but she gave in and followed him. They walked up the back stairs to an apartment in a converted house. Caroline had told Belinda that Alex had a roommate, but the roommate was still out when Alex answered the door.
Belinda blinked in the dim light shining on the entrance as Alex came into view. “We met before,” she said. “On our first day.”
Alex nodded. “I figured it was you. Guess we never exchanged names.” She smiled faintly. They’d been interrupted and Belinda never saw her again. After introducing Bennett, Alex led them to a small living room adjacent to the kitchen.
She flicked off the TV and waved for them to sit. “How’s your arm?” Belinda asked.
Alex automatically stretched it out, exposing a large, white bandage covering the stitches along the inside of her left forearm. “Still attached.” She half smiled. “It wasn’t as bad as it looked.”
“What happened?” Belinda inched forward in her seat, straining to look.
“There was a broken vase in the box that I didn’t see.” Alex shrugged. “I was in a hurry. Someone else must’ve been too and broke it.”
“You didn’t see who packed it?”
“No. I was told to work on it. The box was part full when I got there.” Alex turned her arm over as if she could see through the bandage. “I think whoever was working on it was summoned somewhere else. It happens a lot right now. My guess is somebody set it down too hard. We’ve all been rushing to finish up.”
Or someone planted it there on purpose. If so, did they know Alex would be using the box? Or was that a coincidence?
The Warden had seen Belinda talking to Alex. And Alex was apparently talking about stuff no one was supposed to. Was this a warning to Alex to keep her mouth shut? Or was it meant for someone else?
Then there was the possibility that this was a mere accident. There were a lot of people coming and going and rushing around. It was possible that someone dropped the vase and shoved it in the box to cover it up, or it broke in transit inside the box.
“I heard the shed roof collapsed,” Alex said, breaking into Belinda’s thoughts. “Caroline told me A.J. left.”
Belinda assumed A.J. was the redheaded kid. “He was pretty shaken up,” Belinda said. “Especially after…this…” Belinda waved at Alex’ arm. “We didn’t know you were hurt until we got there this morning. But everyone was pretty upset about it.”
Alex shifted in her seat, her eyes gazing down absently.
Belinda leaned forward. “Do you think this was an accident, Alex?”
“It wasn’t that big of a deal.” But she wouldn’t meet Belinda’s eyes. “They can keep working without me.”
“Will you go back?”
Alex finally lifted her eyes off the floor, brushing a long lock of chestnut brown hair behind her ear. “I was told it was best if I didn’t, which was a convenient way of firing me.”
Belinda and Bennett traded a glance.
“Not that it matters much,” Alex added. “After this, I have to find a new job anyway.”
“Look,” Belinda said, hesitating about how to word her thoughts. She wanted to prod Alex for more information, but she didn’t want to break their cover either. “This was supposed to be a pretty normal job, so all of this is a little…unnerving.”
Alex waved it off. “You guys don’t need to worry. You haven’t been around long. Besides, you technically work for someone else, anyway.”
“And the rest of you do need to worry?”
Alex watched her, calculating her response. Or maybe wondering about Belinda’s questions. Or both. “I didn’t say that. In any case, you’ll be done tomorrow either way. As much as Elizabeth has to get this done, she doesn’t want to spend a dime more, either.” Alex half smiled.
Belinda wasn’t sure how Alex knew how long they were contracted for, but she seemed to pay attention to what was going on around her. So maybe she’d overheard the Warden talking about it. Or the staff may have been told.
“Will you attend the funeral?” Belinda said, knowing Henry Lawson’s funeral was the next weekend.
Alex shook her head. “No one outside his family is invited. Even if we were…well, I don’t see a point. I never met anyone else in the family, and I didn’t know him that well, either. He mostly kept to his rooms when we were all around.”
“No one from his family ever visits?”
“Once in a while the granddaughter, Ginny, drops by. But she never stays long, and everyone assumes she comes to get money.” Alex shrugged. “That may be true. I’ve overheard them talking, though, and they seem to get along. Or did…” Her eyes drifted off.
“Did anyone else stop by?” Bennett said.
Alex took a deep breath. “He had frequent visitors from work–the company. Though it wasn’t something we were supposed to notice. Mr. Lawson was technically retired, but he still kept up with everything going on.”
Belinda stowed that nugget away for later. Maybe all of this had something to do with his interference. “I’d imagine he knew some of them for a long time. He must’ve been friends with some of his colleagues.”
“Maybe…but from what I’ve heard, some of his visitors were really random. People everyone knew he clashed with.”
“Like the boyfriend of his daughter?”
“That’s only a rumor, but he did show up a few times recently, which was surprising since Lawson talked about how much he disliked him pretty loudly. Usually when his daughter called.” Alex smirked. “But one of the daughter’s main advisers came by too. And I don’t think they liked each other very much.”
“Did they argue or something?”
“Not when she was here. Everything was perfectly civil. But I’ve heard they had open blowouts before he retired.”
Two people Lawson openly didn’t like coming to visit…and now he was dead. Just a coincidence? It could’ve been. After all, enemies could easily become allies, even if only temporarily. Henry probably still exerted some influence within the company. Perhaps they had some common interests.
They left Alex to enjoy the rest of the night in peace. Bennett didn’t rush back to the inn, which Belinda was grateful for. Especially with everything that had happened, she seriously missed being able to talk out in the open.
“Do you think this could all have something to do with company politics?” she said before she lost her opportunity.
Bennett shrugged a shoulder. “It would seem Camilla thinks so.” He glanced over. “We know some people don’t like her friend…Vincent. If Alex is right and he paid visits to Lawson, then I would venture to say some sort of game was being played.”
Belinda rested her elbow on the door, yawning. It had been a long few days and she’d had trouble sleeping on top of it.
“Guess it’s time for bed.” Bennett smiled.
“You’re tired too,” she said, stifling another one.
He reached for her hand, giving it a good squeeze.
“Maybe Vincent hoped to win Henry to his side of things.” Belinda wrapped her hand around his, relieved to have a few minutes of privacy. “If Henry still held some sway inside the company, Vincent may have hoped to make him an ally.”
“Alex also said Henry didn’t care for Vincent, which makes you wonder why Vincent would even try. Unless he had a really good bargaining chip.”
Belinda stared at their intertwined hands, Bennett’s thumb tracing small circles on hers. “I wonder if we’re spying in the wrong place.”
“Except for the accidents, I’d agree with you.”
“Good point.” She stared out into the darkness for a few seconds, realizing the radio was on, just quiet. “I’m not sur
e I understand why the accidents have happened. If Lawson was murdered, and his killer wants it to look like an accident, creating all these other problems is only drawing suspicion.”
“I’ve thought about that.” Bennett stretched his neck one way and then the other. Belinda guessed she wasn’t the only sore person in the car. “The other accidents look like warning shots to me. Alex was hurt, but not seriously.”
Belinda whipped her head his direction. “Do you call having an ax nearly fall on your head a warning shot?” She’d seen the ax, its blade dug into the ground. It could easily have fallen on Bennett or the other guy.
Bennett didn’t seem fazed by her reasoning, shrugging casually. “Maybe they didn’t know the ax was there.”
Belinda harrumphed. “In my experience, nothing like that is a mistake. Besides, even if the ax hadn’t been there, an attic full of heavy junk falling on you would still be a problem.”
“Forgive me,” Bennett said after a short pause, “I forgot I was talking to a seasoned detective.”
Belinda narrowed her eyes. “Okay, Mr. Smart Alec. Let’s say they were warning shots. Why take the chance of people suspecting Lawson was killed?”
“Because that’s what people already think?”
Belinda started to respond, then sat back, gazing out the window again. “I didn’t think about that.”
“It’s already a rumor.” Bennett barely hid his smirk. “Maybe the killer is rolling with what people think happened anyway.”
Belinda tried to wrap her head around that idea. “So, the killer isn’t trying to hide it?”
“I honestly don’t know. It does seem like a strange way to handle things if you want Lawson’s death to just fly under the radar. But the rumors may have spooked the killer, and this may seem like a good way to deflect attention.”
“I suppose. I guess the killer could simply be…flexible…” It sounded strange to her, but then again, things rarely went the way you planned. Why would murder be any different? “Let’s say the killer didn’t expect everyone to say it was murder for some reason…if that’s true, they may feel they have less to lose.”
“Or they could assume that despite the rumors, the police won’t interfere since it’s been written off as an accidental death.”
Belinda nodded, her head spinning now with new possibilities. “I have another thought.”
“Should I be concerned?”
Belinda ignored that, turning toward him. “What if these are separate incidents? What if Lawson’s death and these accidents are two different things.”
“You mean, you think the accidents are completely unrelated to Lawson?” Bennett arched a brow, surprise, or skepticism, crossing his face.
She shook her head. “I still think they’re related. But what if we’re talking about two separate people? One killed Lawson, the other is causing these accidents?”
Bennett scratched his chin. “What’s the motivation then? For the accidents?”
Belinda shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t know. It could be related to losing the house…or…or maybe it is related to Lawson’s death. Maybe they’re trying to draw attention to it by creating problems.”
“You think someone is causing accidents to get Lawson’s death to look like murder?”
“Why not? If the police won’t listen, you might find ways to draw attention to this place. If enough weird incidents occur, they might assume someone will come to investigate eventually.”
Bennett’s eyebrows pinched together.
“What?”
“I don’t like that idea.”
“Why not? I think it’s pretty clever.” She smiled.
“Yes, but that could also mean that eventually one of the accidents won’t be just a warning shot.”
Belinda tilted her head his direction. “I don’t follow.”
Another car’s headlights streaked across Bennett’s face, lighting up his gray eyes. “Well, if someone does want Lawson’s death to look like murder, they might become desperate enough to do more than cut someone’s arm.”
Belinda’s smile sagged as that sank in. “I think we know whom to keep an eye on first, though.”
“Who?”
“Lawson’s granddaughter, Ginny. You know, I saw her sneak out of the gala the night they found Lawson dead.”
“Really?”
Belinda nodded. “It didn’t seem important then. But now…maybe she’s hiding something.”
“Only one way to find out.” Bennett half smiled, glancing her way.
Belinda started to answer him, then she frowned instead. “Don’t say it.”
“It’s not that bad. And you claim you love all this stuff.”
Belinda sighed, settling deeper into her seat. “Fine. That means it’s time for some surveillance.”
Bennett winked, clearly pleased with her irritation.
“But I’m bringing snacks and you’re not saying anything.” Belinda pointed a finger at his nose.
He held a hand up in surrender. “Wouldn’t dare.”
Chapter 14
The next morning, Belinda’s phone woke her out of a dead sleep. It was her alarm, which she swiped to snooze. She felt like she barely slept at all. After their conversation with Alex, she’d had trouble winding down. And then even more trouble going to sleep.
She rolled over with a groan, telling herself she’d get up in a minute. But once her mind got going on those topics again, it was too late.
Belinda huffed, finally rolling up to get ready and meet Bennett downstairs for breakfast so he didn’t start eating without her again.
She was partly intrigued by everything because it seemed they’d stumbled into something juicy. On the other hand, she was still worried about the “accidents.” But mostly, she was stumped by all the hush-hush business.
Whatever secrets they were holding, they wanted to keep to themselves.
After stuffing her face with French toast and home fries, they headed back to “work.” It was the last day, and in many ways, hadn’t come soon enough. But they still didn’t know a lot and that was a problem.
Belinda watched in the side mirror as the inn grew smaller. She hoped no one had figured out what they were really doing here. She was no spy, as Bennett had been happy to tell her more than once. But she was concerned about the well-being of everyone at the Lawson house. What if Alex ended up in bigger trouble because of them?
The house was still like a beehive that morning, the staff in and out of rooms, still finding things to pack up and move out. It was a large house, but it also seemed that it was stuffed to the gills.
As soon as they entered the kitchen, another employee directed them to work in the same part of the house Belinda was in the day before. Bennett joined her without a word, which she took to mean he was done with the shed.
Happy to avoid the Warden first thing in the morning, Belinda took one room, what looked like a small office connected to a sort of guest suite. Bennett took the bedroom next to it.
The dark oak bookshelves along two sides had already been cleared off. Well, mostly. Anything left behind was trash. Since it wasn’t stacked with papers like the first room she cleaned, she figured they could finish with that whole part of the house easily.
Then they could go home.
She breathed in and out slowly, that thought making her pick up the pace. She was on autopilot, grabbing and bagging, as she worked in a circle around the perimeter of the room first.
Belinda crossed to the second, long wall of shelves, scanning for items to toss. Her eyes lazily drifted over a crack in the floral mint green wallpaper, trying to find trash to throw out.
Climbing on a chair to reach papers on the top shelf, her eyes landed on the tear again. This time, she was looking at it sideways and realized it wasn’t just a rip in the paper. The entire wallpaper seam wasn’t flat against the wall.
Hurrying to the floor, she examined the tear, feeling a draft between it and the wall. And pressing her fingers alon
g its edge, she gently pulled it toward her, revealing a hidden door.
Belinda almost squealed in happiness. She’d finally found something! Maybe…
It could also be a room stuffed with more junk.
She took a breath and entered a narrow corridor. As she walked, it got stuffier, and darker, with no sign of a light switch. Feeling her pockets, she knew she didn’t have a flashlight on her. But Bennett might.
After checking the hallway, Belinda snuck into the room next door, dragging him back with her, almost hopping up and down as she pointed at the hidden door.
“It’s just like the mansions,” she whisper-shouted. “It must’ve been for the servants when the house was first built. But it’s not just a corridor. There’s a room at the end!”
Bennett didn’t quite share her enthusiasm, squinting into the dark hall. “Okay…what did you find?”
Belinda’s smile faded into a pout. “What do you mean, ‘what did I find?’ I found this!” She aimed both hands at the door.
Bennett glanced at her skeptically, clearly doubting anything useful would be at the other end. “I hate to tell you this, but this guy was a hoarder. There’s probably more stuff for us to throw out down there. And, you know what? We could just keep that between us.” He glanced back at the door, indicating they could just finish up these rooms and leave it be.
“I’m not looking for more work to do,” she said, irritated. “I’m looking to leave here with something to show for.” Besides bruises and scrapes on her legs and arms from lifting and kneeling and getting slapped with heavy items.
Bennett dug a hand into his back pocket, pulling out a skinny flashlight. “I take it you need one of these?” He held it out to her by the end. Belinda smiled, happily snatching it from his fingers.
“I knew you’d be prepared for this sort of thing.” She beamed. “You can act indifferent all you like, but I know you live for this as much as I do.”
Bennett’s gray eyes sparkled ever so slightly, his lips curving up in a faint smile. “Lead the way, then.”
Belinda gladly obeyed, charging ahead into the part she already knew.
