Beyond a Doubt

by Colleen Coble

  “Argie Hamel shipped the stuff out on the Seawind,” Bree said slowly, holding her hand to her cheek. “But why did you kill him?”

  “I didn’t!” Abe yelled, his face red as he stood over her. “Argie was into more big-time stuff than we were. He fell one day and broke his leg. Knocked over a box in the process, and all these gems fell out: rubies, emeralds, diamonds.”

  “And you didn’t need to call a doctor, did you? Max Parker had been in med school.” It was all falling into place for Bree. “Did he offer you a cut on the stones if you kept quiet?”

  “Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out.” In a quick move Abe snatched the ring out of Anu’s hand and made for the door.

  Bree drew a deep breath, the truth exploding in her. She stepped in front of Abe. “Dr. Parker was the brains behind the Do-Wrongs. The drug smuggling was his baby. He killed Argie.”

  “No!” Abe stopped with his hand on the knob. “Max took him home and bandaged him up. He was getting along just fine until some internal bleeding got him. There was nothing Max could do.”

  “And you swallowed that story?”

  Abe’s eyes widened. “Max said he bled to death. Said we might as well split those gems up among us.”

  “And you killed Peter in my basement for his share.”

  “Shut up! It wasn’t like that.” Abe let go of the door and clenched his hands as though he was trying not to strangle Bree. “We split up the gems, and I had the ring in my share. At first, we thought it was a poor-quality emerald.”

  “Which is why you gave it to Anu. She never expected much from you.”

  Abe shot her a fierce look from under his lowered brows. “Max found out what we really had and told me to give him the ring, that he’d sell it and we’d split the take. I said no. A deal was a deal. He came at me with Peter’s wrecking tool, and Pete jumped in between at the wrong time. I lit out then and never went back.”

  He looked at Anu. “I always thought I’d be back for it before now, but I never really needed it. Then there was that picture of you in the newspaper article about the store’s twentieth anniversary. I saw the ring on your finger and knew Max would go after it.”

  “You came back to protect Anu?”

  He shrugged his shoulders.

  “Oh, Abraham,” Anu said softly. “Why didn’t you go to the police when Max killed Peter?”

  “They’d find out I was a smuggler and all the rest. Then you’d know too.”

  “Well, now we all know, don’t we?” Dr. Max Parker shoved the door open and stepped in. He pointed a gun at Abe. “I’ll take that ring now. You didn’t think I’d let you get away with it, did you, Abe?” He snapped his fingers. “The ring.”

  Abe slowly dropped it into his hand. “I was getting it for you,” he said.

  “Sure, and there’s a bridge I’d like to sell you.” Dr. Parker’s fist closed over the ring, and he smiled in triumph.

  Anu’s gaze lingered on the doctor’s face in a way that would have touched anyone else’s heart. “We’ve been friends a long time, Max,” she said softly.

  Dr. Parker ignored her. “Let’s all go for a ride in my new yacht.” He motioned to Bree. “Get the boy.”

  Bree was prepared to throw herself on the gun, anything to prevent his getting his hands on her son. She curled her fingers into her palms and raised a pleading gaze to Dr. Parker. “Please, leave him here. He’s seen nothing and knows nothing.” Bree knew what the boat ride meant. He’d toss them overboard and let Superior’s cold water do the rest. Hypothermia would kill them in minutes.

  Dr. Parker hesitated, then nodded curtly. “All right. I guess I don’t really want the boy’s death on my conscience. Maybe I’ll make him my token charity of the day. Now move.”

  Bree walked slowly toward the door. She knew Anu was praying, and she prayed fervently too.

  Bree could hear Samson pacing and snarling in Davy’s room. They went down the stairs. She started toward the coat closet under the stairs.

  “You won’t need a jacket where you’re going,” the doctor said with a sneer.

  “At least we can be more comfortable on the ride out there,” she said, ignoring him and opening the closet door.

  “Stop right there!”

  “You’re not going to shoot me. I’m going to get our jackets.” Bree grabbed Anu’s jacket and slung it to her, then took her own from the hanger. The heavy drape on the right side told her she wasn’t mistaken. The new can of bear spray she’d bought was still in her pocket. She’d never transferred it to her ready-pack.

  She slipped her arms into her jacket. The doctor gritted his teeth and grabbed her roughly by the arm. “Get in the car and don’t give me any more trouble!” He marched them in a single file to his car, a new black Cadillac.

  “You sit in the front with me. If either of you move, I’ll shoot her,” he told Anu and Abe.

  Bree sat perfectly still in the passenger seat. She’d have to figure out when to make her move. She wouldn’t let him put them on the boat. She stared at her house in the side mirror outside her window. God, be with Davy. Tears sprang to her eyes, and she swallowed hard. She had to live. For Davy’s sake, she had to figure out how to defeat Max Parker.

  “Why did the money matter so much?” She needed to keep him talking. “Your family has always been known as the richest in town.”

  He grimaced. “Well, appearances are deceiving, aren’t they? My father came home from World War II with so many injuries, he became addicted to morphine. It took stronger drugs to keep the mental demons away. He squandered all our money on his drugs. When the money was gone, he introduced me to the trade of black-market painkillers. That’s where the real money is.” He waved the gun nonchalantly. “But I’m tired of it all. I don’t want my boy messed up in this. Abe has already pulled him into enough trouble. And with the ring, neither of us will ever have to worry about money again.” His eyes glittered.

  “Even if you have to kill three more people. You’re leaving Davy an orphan.”

  “He’ll have Hilary and Mason. Your son will have a good home. I might even bestow some money on him.” A trace of regret passed over his face. “I’ve always liked you, Bree. I’m sorry it had to end this way.”

  “It doesn’t. You could let us go. Take the diamond and disappear.”

  He pursed his lips and shook his head. “And leave my comfortable spot in the community? No. It has to be this way. I’m sorry.”

  His inflexible voice made chills run up her spine. He drove to the marina. This early in the season, no one was around. Bree looked out at the inky black water, fear beginning to swamp her.

  She forced her lips to move. “You trashed Anu’s house, didn’t you? And killed Benjamin Mallory. He worked with you, not Abe, like I thought, right? Mason said he’d heard that Benjamin had become a Christian. Did he get cold feet then and threaten to blow the whistle on you?”

  He stared straight ahead.

  “That’s it, isn’t it? You had him killed. I’m sure you didn’t sully your hands with the killing yourself.”

  He shrugged.

  “And you set fire to my house. I assume to cover any remaining evidence in the basement?”

  “Forensics has come a long way. I wanted to make sure nothing down there might incriminate me.”

  “How can you think money is worth all those lives?” she asked.

  He scowled and brought the car to a stop at a dock. “Enough talk.”

  Bree opened her door and stepped out. As she did, she zipped her jacket and slipped her hands into her pockets. “That wind is cold.” Her fingers closed around the can of bear spray. She had to time this just right.

  “Not as cold as the water,” he said in a monotone voice.

  She fumbled in frustration with the cap of the bear spray. At one point, her nails snapped against the plastic cap, and she froze, sure he’d heard. But the howling wind drowned out the noise. She finally succeeded in getting the cap off. Her finger on the trigger
, she waited for the right moment. With her gaze she pleaded silently for Abe to do something, anything to distract the doctor.

  Abe moved slowly. “I’m not feeling too good,” he said.

  “Pretty soon you won’t feel anything at all,” Dr. Parker said. “Move.”

  Abe shuffled forward with Anu helping him along.

  “Can’t you see he’s sick?” Anu said sharply.

  Abe groaned and sank to his knees. With the doctor’s attention fully on the pair, Bree brought the can of bear spray out of her pocket. Holding it aloft, she shrieked at the top of her lungs. The doctor spun toward her in alarm. She pressed the nozzle of the spray and dosed his eyes with the pepper spray.

  Screaming, Dr. Parker dropped the gun and dug at his eyes. He staggered along the pier, uttering high squawks of agony.

  Abe grabbed the gun. “Stop!” he shouted at the doctor. Blinded by the bear spray, Dr. Parker reeled along the pier. A high board on the pier caught the doctor’s shoe, and he toppled against one of the pier posts.

  “Look out!” Bree shouted, running toward him.

  He flung out his arms to try to regain his balance. Then, flailing wildly, he fell into the frigid water.

  Bree glanced around for something to throw to him. Nothing. She’d seen a cell phone on the seat of the car. “I’ll call for help,” she shouted, running back to the Cadillac. “See if you can get him out.” Scrabbling inside the car, she found the phone and dialed 9-1-1. The dispatcher promised to send someone to watch over Davy and to send aid to the dock.

  She needed to get to Davy herself, make sure he was all right. She glanced at the ignition. The keys weren’t there. Dr. Parker must have them. She got out and slammed the door behind her, then went running down the hill to the dock. If she could get the keys, she’d take the doctor’s car and get to her son. The authorities could handle this mess.

  Abe had managed to get the doctor out of the lake, though Dr. Parker still groped blindly. Gasping and shivering, he lay on the rocks with streaming red eyes.

  “Where are the car keys?” she asked, kneeling beside him.

  Coughing and sputtering, he turned his head away and didn’t answer her. She patted his jacket and found the keys. When she pulled them out, the diamond ring came with them. She handed it to Anu. “Keep this for Mason.” All she wanted was to get to her son.

  Bree turned at the sound of a siren and saw Mason get out of the car. She saw her own relief echoed in Anu’s face. Anu stayed close to Abraham, but Bree ran to Mason, and he hugged her in a tight, brotherly embrace.

  “He was going to kill us,” she said, her words muffled against his chest.

  “You’re safe now,” Mason said. He patted her back, then released her. She turned to the doctor’s car. “Wait, Bree,” Mason said. “Hilary is with Davy. I need you here for a minute longer.” Reluctantly, she followed him down the dock to where Abe stood guard over Dr. Parker.

  Mason listened quietly to the explanation of all that had happened, his gaze lingering on Abe’s face as Bree explained her father-in-law’s part in everything.

  “I’m afraid I’m going to have to arrest you as well, Mr. Nicholls,” he told Abe.

  “I know,” Abe said. He held out his hands. “Can I see my daughter first?”

  Mason’s jaw twitched. “I’m sure she’d like to see you.”

  33

  I’m in here,” Hilary said.

  Anu stopped Bree from entering the living room. “Wait, maybe I should prepare her,” she whispered.

  “How do you prepare someone for something like this?” Bree asked.

  Anu’s hand dropped, and she nodded. “Perhaps you are right.”

  They all stepped into the living room. Abe was beside Mason, though the sheriff had been thoughtful enough to remove the cuffs.

  Hilary’s face looked thin, drawn. She was curled up on the sofa with Bree’s Bible in her hand. Her eyes were pink, and she wiped the moisture from them hastily.

  “Is everyone is all right? I still can’t believe the doctor would do something like this. I’ve been praying for him.”

  There was something different about Hilary, something Bree couldn’t put her finger on. The worry about the baby had softened her sharp edges, but it wasn’t just that.

  Hilary’s gaze went to Anu. “Are you okay, Mother?” She stood and embraced her.

  Her shoulders shaking, Anu clung to her. Tears welled in Bree’s eyes as well. This had to be so hard for Anu.

  Hilary began to cry too, though Bree couldn’t tell whether it was in sympathy for her mother or from her own emotional upheaval. Anu’s shoulders straightened, and she began to soothe her daughter. Hilary finally pulled away. Her gaze touched Abe, then went to Mason, then back to Abe. Her eyes widened.

  Anu took Hilary’s hand. “You recognize this man, kulta? Look closely. He is your father.”

  Hilary put her hand to her mouth. “Daddy?”

  “Hello, Hilly.” Abe’s arms hung slackly at his sides, then he rubbed his palms against his trousers as if he wasn’t sure what to do with his hands.

  Hilary gasped and her face paled.

  “It’s you, Daddy.” She ran to her father, and Abe embraced her, tears trickling down his weathered cheeks.

  Bree looked away. The moment was too private for her to stare. After a few minutes, the sound of weeping faded, and she peeked again at her family. Hilary had finally stepped back. She stood staring at her father as though she couldn’t get enough of him.

  “Why did you leave? All these years and not a word. And why are you here now?”

  “I think we’d better all sit down. This is a story I want to hear as well,” Mason said.

  Bree reached out to take Hilary’s hand. Hilary let her fingers lie in Bree’s palm, but she didn’t return the pressure. Stony-faced, she refused to look at her father as Mason stood to take him to jail.

  “Hilly?” Abe said at the doorway.

  Hilary turned her face away. “I don’t ever want to see him again,” she told her mother.

  Anguish contorted Abe’s features, and he turned slowly to go with Mason. The sound of the door closing seemed as final as a death.

  “For your own sake, you must forgive him,” Anu said.

  Hilary said nothing, her face cold and white. She gathered her things and went to the door.

  Bree followed Hilary to the door. “I’ll be praying for you, Hilary.”

  “Don’t bother,” Hilary said, her voice clipped. “No amount of prayer will make me forgive him.”

  Bree stood on the porch and watched her leave. As she turned to go back inside, she saw the lights of a car approach, then stop. Nick got out and came running up the walk to her. “I just heard about it on the scanner.” His face was drawn with concern, and when he held open his arms, she went to him. She allowed herself this moment of weakness. She was so tired of being the strong one, of holding everything together. For just a minute, it was good to let the tears flow.

  Kade raced down Quincy Hill, gunning his engine as he made the curve and turned toward the lighthouse. Inperturbable Mason had sounded rattled when he called from the station. And no wonder, since he’d had to arrest his father-in-law. Kade still wasn’t sure Mason knew what he was talking about when he said Bree was fine. How could she be fine when she’d nearly been killed?

  Beside him, Lauri gripped the door handle to keep from being tossed around the truck. “Slow down!”

  With all the evening’s eventfulness, no one had been at the sheriff’s office to question Lauri about her involvement in the break-ins and smuggling, so at least she hadn’t had to spend the night in jail. Kade was grateful for that. He was frantic to get to Bree. She needed him. He wanted to wrap her in his arms and stand against anyone who would try to hurt her or Davy.

  As he approached her home, he saw two figures on the porch, their arms wrapped around one another. His foot slipped from the accelerator as the porch light illuminated Bree’s red hair. Bree was in Nick Fletcher�
�s arms.

  He heard Lauri gasp. The steering wheel went slack in his hands, and he narrowly missed a light pole. What a fool he’d been. He turned the truck and went back the way he’d come.

  Bree held Davy’s hand as they walked along the lakeshore. Davy stooped and picked up a piece of pink quartz, then they continued on their stroll. Bree lifted her face to the sun and relished the warmth on her skin. Her doubts behind her, the future looked as warm and sunny as the blue skies above her head.

  Davy pulled his hand from hers and ran ahead of her to the edge of the water where a wave tossed a bit of flotsam onto his shoes. “Oh, it’s cold, Mommy!”

  Bree smiled and nodded. “It’s always cold, remember? Even in the summer, it’s cold.”

  “I remember.”

  She remembered too, so much that it brought her a bittersweet joy mixed with pain. The three of them had spent a lot of time here. Rob loved it as much as Davy. The hard rocks mixed with sand as fine and white as sugar reminded her of the way all sweet things are mixed with hard things that are sometimes difficult to endure. She would have to keep learning to thank God for them all.

  There would be hard times ahead. Kade and Lauri would have to deal with Lauri’s pregnancy and her trouble with the law, though Mason said he had talked with the district attorney and thought he could get Lauri probation. She was underage and penitent and had helped crack the smuggling ring wide open. All of them would have to forge new relationships with Abe and deal with the trauma caused by his greed. The consequences of what he’d done would reverberate for some time through their small community, which was still reeling from the discovery of Dr. Parker’s murderous side.

  Kade’s struggle with his boss over the wildlife center had been solved by a grant that followed Dawn Anderson’s favorable news report. Bree had stared longingly at the footage of Kade with the baby raccoons. He had avoided her for over a week now, and she was having to come to the realization that maybe it was over between them.