Uncovered Secrets: A Riverton Crossing Novel - Book 7

by Maris, Savannah

  Rachel had just sat down when a woman about thirty years older than her with obviously dyed red hair stepped around the corner. “Ms. Davis?”

  Rachel stood and smiled. “Yes, ma’am. Sharon?”

  “Yes.” The woman extended her hand. “How are you this morning?”

  “Fine. I’m here early because I need to get back to Charleston this afternoon. Is Ms. Hightower up for a visitor?”

  “Yes, she’s in good spirits this morning.”

  “I took the liberty of bringing some breakfast biscuits. Is she allowed to eat them? I know my mother has dementia and can eat anything she likes, but I wasn’t sure about stroke victims.”

  “Oh yes, she’s free to have anything she wants. We just need to keep track of how much she eats. Follow me.” Before she opened the door, Sharon turned toward Rachel. “Um, due to regulations, I’m not allowed to say anything about Ms. Gloria’s health, but, um, let’s just say you may see some similarities to your mother.” She raised her eyebrows and looked expectantly at Rachel.

  Rachel nodded as she picked up the food bag, coffees, and her satchel. “I’m glad this worked out. We’ve got so much to do.”

  “I bet you do. When is the big day?”

  “I think they’re going to announce that at the engagement party.”

  “Oh, how fun. Is that coming up soon?”

  “Yes, ma’am. The party is set for Saturday.” Thank God she read the newspaper at Ben’s on Sunday.

  “This Saturday?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “I see. Matthew hasn’t said anything about his mother going.”

  “Could she go?”

  “If she’s having a good day, yes. Maybe he thinks it’s too far of a drive.”

  “Maybe. It is about four hours.”

  “Well, hopefully, he’ll at least come to see her and bring his fiancée.”

  “That would be nice.”

  They turned down a long hall and went to the room on the right. Sharon knocked on the door. “Ms. Gloria, you have a visitor.”

  “Come in,” a frail voice sounded from the other side of the door.

  Rachel followed Sharon into the room. “Ms. Gloria, this is a friend of Matthew’s. She’d like to speak with you.”

  The older woman looked toward the door. “Oh? Is Matthew here?”

  “No, ma’am. This is Rachel.”

  Rachel smiled. “Good morning, Ms. Hightower. How are you?”

  “I’m good. It’s a beautiful day.”

  “Yes, ma’am, it is.”

  Sharon touched Rachel on the shoulder and motioned that she was leaving, and Rachel nodded.

  “You’re a friend of Matthew’s?”

  “Yes, ma’am. I know you must be so proud of him.”

  “Yes, but he has an important job, so I don’t see him much.”

  “I bet. I’m sure he’s really busy.” Rachel moved closer to the woman. “Have you had breakfast?”

  “No, they haven’t come to get me yet.”

  “That’s good because I brought you a treat. How would you like to have a biscuit instead of the cafeteria food?”

  The woman’s eyes seemed to come into focus. “Anything would be better than that.”

  Rachel smiled. “How about coffee?”

  “Cream and sugar?”

  “The works,” Rachel said with a sly grin.

  “Why do you want to talk about Matthew?”

  Rachel opened the sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit for Ms. Hightower. “Well, we’re planning a special party in his honor, and we’d like to include a walk down memory lane type of display. Do you think you could help me with that?”

  A bright smile appeared on the woman’s face. “That is so nice. It must be a big party.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Rachel opened a coffee and poured in a sugar. “One cream or two?”

  “Two.” Rachel replaced the lid, and the woman took the cup and sipped the coffee. “That’s good. What do you want to know about Matthew?”

  “He has a good friend named Martin Pickens. Do you know him?” Rachel sipped her coffee and took a pinch of her biscuit.

  Ms. Hightower bit her biscuit and appeared to be thinking. “Yes, Matthew’s father introduced us years ago. He helped me buy a house here when we moved.”

  “When did you move here?”

  The woman’s demeanor changed, and she looked as if she were a young girl in trouble with her parents as she touched Rachel’s arm. “Please don’t tell Matthew.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “My parents kicked me out when I got pregnant. That’s when Matthew’s father introduced me to his friend Martin. They thought it was best if I moved away from Columbia since Martin was important in politics, and Theo was his friend.”

  “Theo?” Rachel choked.

  “Matthew’s father.”

  Rachel couldn’t breathe. It felt as if the air had been knocked out of her lungs. “I’m sorry, Ms. Hightower, but what’s his full name?”

  “Theodore Nobles. We never married because Theo had to stay and help Senator Pickens. He thought it was best if we lived separately. That way, no one in politics would bother us.”

  “I see. Did Mr. Nobles see you often?”

  “Oh, yes. We’d see him every week. He’d bring money and take us to buy groceries since I didn’t have a car.”

  Rachel couldn’t believe her luck. The woman just handed her everything on a silver platter.

  “Ms. Hightower, did you donate to Mr. Pickens campaign?”

  “Oh, heavens no. I didn’t have money for that sort of thing. Mr. Pickens told me to save what little I earned to buy Matthew something special.”

  “When Matthew got his important job, did you give him money?”

  A tear fell from the woman’s eyes. “I wanted to, but he told me I’d given him enough by putting a roof over his head and clothes on his back.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Being a single mom is a tough job.”

  “I went to work part-time when Matthew went to school, you know. I couldn’t let Mr. Pickens pay for everything.”

  “I understand—”

  “But when Theo went to jail. I didn’t know what I was going to do.”

  Rachel’s eyes widened. Could she be…

  “But Mr. Pickens came to see me then. He gave me a credit card and told me not to worry. We’d be taken care of. Matthew would go to college. All he had to do was get in.”

  Martin Pickens is Matthew’s benefactor.

  “I made Matthew study real hard. I didn’t let him run around with those other boys. He didn’t want to disappoint Mr. Pickens, so he took classes to help himself get into college.”

  Rachel smiled. “And not only did he get into college, but went to law school.”

  “I couldn’t be prouder. He’s such a good boy. Anytime he gave me a minute’s trouble, I’d call Mr. Pickens. He straightened Matthew out and got him back on the right path.”

  “Did that happen often?”

  “Oh, no. Mr. Pickens only came up here one time when Matthew was in high school. After he met with the principal and that girl’s parents, Matthew didn’t have any more issues.”

  Rachel took another sip of her coffee. “Why did Mr. Pickens have to come up here?”

  The older woman waved her hand in the air. “Some two-bit floozy said Matthew tried to touch her … you know, under her skirt.”

  “Oh, wow.”

  “Of course, Matthew didn’t do it.”

  “Of course.”

  “After that meeting, the girl said that she was wrong. It was an accident that he slipped or something.”

  “I’m sure it was. Do you remember her name?” Rachel pinched off another bite of her biscuit.

  “Donna something.”

  A knock sounded on the door. “Ms. Gloria?”

  “Yes, dear,” said the older lady.

  “It’s time for bingo. Do you want to go or stay and chat with Rachel?”

  The older woman tu
rned toward Rachel. “I really like bingo. Can you come back another time?”

  Rachel smiled. “You go enjoy yourself. I need to get back to work anyway. I’d love to visit again soon.” She stood. “Thank you for speaking with me.”

  “I enjoyed it.”

  Rachel gathered her satchel and threw away the trash. Her heart was racing, and she needed to talk to Ben. She forced herself to walk out calmly when inside she was anything but. She signed out at the front desk and walked toward the front door. She was dialing Ben’s number when she almost walked into someone. She glanced up.

  “Excuse me.”

  21

  Matthew waited for the verdict to be read and the gavel to be slammed down before he turned on his phone. He shook several people’s hands before he spun to Vanessa Cox and her husband sitting on the front row of the courtroom gallery.

  “They’re going to pay, Vanessa. You won’t have to be here for the sentencing in a couple of weeks.”

  “Thank you, Matthew.” She shook his hand. “I never thought the word guilty could make me feel so relieved.”

  “I’m glad you agreed to testify. I think that went a long way with the jury.”

  Vanessa nodded. “It was hard to relive, but I’m glad I did it.”

  Her husband, Nathan, stood beside her with his arm wrapped around his wife. “Ness, you ready to go? I think this calls for a celebration.”

  She turned to look at him. “Yes.” When he pulled her to leave, she turned back toward Matthew. “Thank you again.”

  Matthew nodded. He packed up his papers and closed his briefcase. His phone pinged with a text as he slid his briefcase off the table. The way news traveled in this town, Stephanie was probably texting to congratulate him.

  Matthew was shaking a few hands when a reporter stopped him outside the courthouse.

  “Mr. Hightower, how confident were you going into closing arguments that you’d get the guilty verdict?”

  Matthew held his briefcase in front of him and cleared his throat. “Mrs. Cox was very convincing as she led the jury into her house of horrors. I’m glad justice was served, and that the ones responsible will pay for what they’ve done.”

  “What sentence are you looking for?”

  “The strongest one the law will allow. Thank you, but if you’ll excuse me, I’m ready to go see my family.”

  Matthew walked off with his head held high. He wanted to see Stephanie for his own celebration. He slid behind the wheel of his Lincoln Navigator and looked at the text message that had come in. When the name came up on the screen, he looked around to see if anyone was close by. The TV cameras were still on him, so he drove around the corner to his office building. He didn’t open the text until he was safely behind the walls of his office.

  The first text read:

  Do you know her?

  The next one was a picture of a woman leaving Sunnyland Retirement Home. Matthew looked at the picture. Did he know her? Hell, yes, he knew her.

  The third text was a picture of the sign-in book at the assisted living facility’s reception desk. And there it was in black and white:

  Visitor: Rachel Davis; To See: Sharon/Ms. Gloria H. What the hell was she doing there? Matthew wasted no time placing a call.

  “Sunnyland Retirement Home.”

  “Good afternoon. Is Sharon still in?”

  “Yes, sir. May I tell her who’s calling?”

  “Matthew Hightower.”

  “One moment, please.”

  Matthew walked around his office and stopped in front of the windows overlooking Main Street.

  “Mr. Hightower?”

  “Sharon, how are you?”

  “Doing fine. And yourself?”

  “Great actually. How’s Mother today?”

  “She had a lovely day.”

  “Did she have any visitors?”

  “Mr. Theo came by.”

  “Was he the only one?”

  “Um, well, a young woman stopped in. She wanted to speak with her.”

  “Do you know what about?”

  “Well, I promised not to say.”

  “Sharon, is this the first time she’s been by?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “I really need to know why she was there.”

  “Mr. Hightower, it’s for a surprise for you, and I promised I wouldn’t ruin it.”

  “A surprise? For me?”

  “She’s helping your fiancée with something for your wedding.”

  “Oh, I see. No, let’s not ruin that surprise, but please let me know if she comes back, will ya?”

  “Sure. Is everything all right?”

  “Yes, everything is fine.”

  Matthew ended the call and left the building, replaying the conversation with Sharon. Helping Stephanie, my ass. Matthew turned the corner heading for his vehicle when he stopped short. Standing in front of him were Sam and Carrie Baxter. Matthew narrowed his eyes as he saw Sam’s hands ball into fists.

  “You … you did this, didn’t you?”

  Sam stepped in front of Carrie. “Did what?”

  Matthew moved closer to Sam. “Are you the reason an assistant DA is visiting my mother?”

  Sam cocked his head. “I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Stay away from her.”

  “Funny, I think I told you the same thing once, and we know how well you listened.”

  “I’m warning you, Officer Baxter. Stay away from my mother.”

  A shit eating grin formed on Sam’s face. “Just as soon as you stay away from my wife.”

  “I’ll have your badge for this.”

  Sam laughed. “You can try.”

  Matthew glared at Sam then Carrie before he walked past them. His vehicle chirped, and Matthew got behind the wheel. He hit a speed dial number as his vehicle sped through a red light.

  “Hey, babe. Congratulations on the win.”

  “Thank you, gorgeous. Is your dad at home?”

  “No, he’s in Columbia until Thursday. He’s coming down for the engagement party, though.”

  “I’ll see you in a few minutes. Be naked and waiting for me in bed.”

  “Mmm, somebody wants celebration sex.”

  “Oh yeah. I’ll be all yours when I get there.” He disconnected the call and placed another one.

  “Hey, Matthew.”

  “Good evening, Senator.”

  “Congratulations on the win today.”

  “Thank you, sir.” Matthew ran his hand through his hair. “I need to tell you something, sir.”

  “You don’t sound like a man who just won a major victory.”

  “I am happy, but I received a text this afternoon from my father.”

  “Theo? What’s wrong?”

  “He went to see my mother today, but to my surprise, he wasn’t her only visitor.”

  “Who else was there?”

  “Assistant District Attorney Rachel Davis.”

  “Why would she be there?”

  “I asked the same thing.”

  “Did you call the facility?”

  “Yes, she fed them a line about helping Stephanie plan something special for me at our wedding.”

  “Son of a bitch. What is she up to?”

  “That’s the sixty-thousand-dollar question, isn’t it?”

  “Where is she now?”

  “I don’t know. The picture he sent was of her leaving the facility.”

  “Okay, I’ll talk to Theo. Sounds like he may need to take a little trip. Don’t worry, son, I’ll take care of it just like I always have.”

  22

  Ben had put this off as long as he possibly could. It was time to make the call.

  When he woke this morning, he knew he wanted to get the contents of the room sorted before Rachel came back, and this call was the first step in making that happen. Ben closed his eyes in hopes it would bring him strength and maybe closure. He slowly blew out a breath as he pressed a contact’s number he hadn’t c
alled in years.

  “Hella?” Ben always smiled at the way Mr. Johnson answered the phone.

  “Mr. Johnson?”

  “Yeah, who’s calling?”

  Ben swallowed. “It’s me. Ben. Ben Stevens.”

  “Ben? Are you all right? Your parents?”

  “Um, yes, sir. Everyone is fine. How about you and Mrs. Johnson?”

  “We’re fine. Is there something I can do for ya?”

  “Well, it’s probably Mrs. Johnson who could answer my question.”

  “All right then. Let me get her. Why don’t you come by and see us when you’re over this way?”

  A smile formed on Ben’s face. “Yes, sir. I’d like that.”

  “Hang on.”

  “Ben? Homer said you want to speak with me. Is there something wrong?”

  Ben took a steadying breath. “Hey, Mrs. Johnson. No, ma’am. Nothing’s wrong.”

  “What’s this Mr. and Mrs. Johnson nonsense? You’re family, Ben.”

  “Yes, ma’am. I wasn’t sure if you still felt that way.”

  “Ben Stevens, you loved our Maggie, and she was happy with you. I’m sorry I took my anger and grief out on you, but you will always be family. You hear me?”

  “Thank you, Mrs. … um, Sally.”

  “Now, to what do I owe this surprise?”

  Ben’s phone vibrated, and he pulled it from his face. Dammit, Rachel’s timing sucked. He had to finish this call before he lost his nerve, so he sent the call to voicemail.

  “Sally … wow, this is harder than I thought.”

  “Ben, does this have anything to do with Maggie? You can tell me.”

  “I’ve met someone.”

  “Oh, Ben, that’s wonderful. We always knew when you were ready, you would move on.”

  “Yes, ma’am, you and Homer know her—Rachel Davis, one of the prosecutors in Theodore Nobles trial.”

  “Oh. That was a long time ago, and I don’t know if I remember her.”

  “None of us were in a good place at that time.” Even though she couldn’t see him, Ben nodded, getting up the nerve for what he needed to ask. “Sally … um, you see, I’ve kept a room full of memories of Maggie, and one of the things is her wedding dress.” Sally gasped. “I wondered if you’d want it.” He took a deep breath. “I’m ready to move forward with Rachel and stop living in the past.”