by Marja McGraw
I hadn’t thought about that and smiled. “Well, tiny women have been having babies throughout time, so I guess size doesn’t matter.”
“Do you think Marcus will tell us the whole story?” she asked.
“I think so. It appears that he and Water Boy are the only ones left who know what happened, and the old man is so angry about being arrested that he’s not talking. Pete called his friend, a homicide detective, and he said that Water Boy has clammed up about everything, although, they now have proof of his enforcement tactics. His sidekick, Charlie, opened up once he knew he was safe from Brown.”
“Who do you think committed the murders?”
“Your guess is as good as mine. Every time I go over what we know, my opinion changes. This case really has me stymied.”
At two o’clock on the button there was a knock on the diner door.
I opened it to find Marcus standing outside and looking around. Watching him made me feel like he was looking for someone or something.
“It seems quiet around here today,” he said.
“Come on in. This was a business, so don’t stand on formalities. I hope you like iced tea because I brought one for you.”
He started to join us at the counter, but after looking around he said, “Why don’t we get comfortable at one of the tables in the back room.”
I shrugged and we followed him to a table.
“Marcus, this is Eloise Neuchase. Her father tried to clear Harley’s name because he didn’t believe he’d murder his own brother. She wants to follow up for him.”
“So you want the whole story,” he said. “There’s a lot to tell. I hope the two of you aren’t in a hurry.”
He seemed nervous and ready to get right down to business, and yet I noticed him taking in all of the speakeasy that was in his view.
“We’ve got all the time in the world,” Eloise said.
“Let me start by telling you about the accident.”
“The accident?” Eloise asked.
“My father and our attorney were killed in an accident. It took place long after the murders, but it is relevant to the rest of my story. My father, Thomas Windsor, was taking Prescott Strong to a doctor’s appointment. I was in the backseat and not paying attention to their conversation. Prescott was the attorney who represented my grandfather and the company. He and my grandfather went all the way back to childhood.
“At the time I didn’t know the story about the murders, but I knew something had happened all those years ago. There were things between my father and grandfather that were hush-hush, although Prescott was privy to whatever had happened.”
He shook his head as though trying to clear it, and took a long look around the diner.
“Anyway, my father and Prescott were talking. I hadn’t been listening until things got heated. My father said, ‘You can’t keep draining the company’s funds. You can threaten us all you want, but I’m not paying you another penny.’
“I’ve never understood what Prescott thought he was doing, but he grabbed the steering wheel, and the car went out of control. I don’t remember anything else until I woke up in the hospital.”
I waited, wondering what the accident had to do with the old murders. It seemed to me that Marcus’ father and Prescott were probably arguing about… I wasn’t sure what they were arguing about, but it sounded like the attorney had been blackmailing the family, or at least Rusty.
“The reason I’m telling you this is because my father is at the center of everything. He’s the reason those three people were murdered. Prescott knew the whole story and he’d been draining company funds with my grandfather’s knowledge.”
“Your father was the reason? Wouldn’t he have been a baby at the time?” I asked.
“Yes. And that’s what’s behind the entire situation.”
Huh. Three murders were a situation? I’d call them more than that.
“Okay, let’s go back to the beginning,” Marcus said. “The basics. My grandfather had an affair with Loretta.” He blurted that out like he was getting rid of a bad taste in his mouth.
“Wait a minute,” I said. “How do you know what happened?”
“After my father died, for whatever reason, my grandfather started telling me about the old days. At first it was all about him being a rum runner, but then he moved up to… Let’s call it bigger stories. He bragged. He sickened me, but there was nothing I could do without the family losing everything.”
There was no longer any doubt in my mind about what was coming.
“Loretta wasn’t a willing partner in the relationship. Grandfather bullied her into seeing him. The result was a pregnancy. She went home to her family to have the baby, a boy. When she returned, she was alone. The few people who knew about the pregnancy thought the baby was Horace’s. Apparently she didn’t want anyone to know she’d been with Grandfather. They thought she’d been seeing Horace on the sly.
“My grandfather wanted his son. She refused to be bullied anymore, and she wouldn’t tell him where the baby was or who was taking care of him. He tried to beat it out of her, but she wouldn’t budge. She said she wouldn’t subject a child to a man like Rusty. He backed off – for a while.”
“He left her alone that easily? I’m surprised,” I said.
“He was biding his time. She became involved with Horace for real and he threatened my grandfather. He had no idea what he was getting into by trying to protect Loretta. He didn’t know about the baby. Loretta let everyone who didn’t know about the pregnancy believe she’d gone home to regroup, so to speak.”
“Oh, what tangled webs…,” Eloise said.
Marcus glanced at her. “You have no idea.”
“I’m pretty sure I know where this is heading, but let’s hear the rest of the story,” I said.
“Grandfather was a loose cannon. People tried to deal with him like they would with anyone else. Not a smart move on their part. Simply put, he had no conscience and no morals. He used the man they called Water Boy to take care of most of those who crossed him. Except when it came to Horace, Harley and Loretta.”
He stopped talking and lowered his head. He was dropping a heavy load that he’d carried for a long time.
I felt kind of sorry for him.
When he looked up, I could have sworn there were tears in his eyes.
“Grandfather waited patiently until he decided he’d had enough. He was tired of Horace defending Loretta, so he went to the house and stabbed the man – over and over again. He said that other than falling to the floor, Horace never made a sound. Then he heard a noise and found Harley in a back room. Harley was sitting in a chair, reading a book. Grandfather took care of him, too. Harley jumped up and tried to run, but Grandfather stabbed him in the back several times. He said Harley was yelling so he made quick work of him, shoved him back into the chair and stabbed him one last time in the heart. Then he closed the hidden door, knowing that Harley would be blamed for his brother’s death. When my grandfather lost his temper, he also lost control.”
Marcus took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
“Grandfather knew that Loretta was here, at the speakeasy, because he’d heard her say she was going to meet Horace before the place opened. This was his next stop. He found Loretta waiting in the storeroom.
“Once more he badgered her about the location of his son.”
He took another deep breath, and I noticed that his hands were shaking.
“Loretta told Grandfather that he’d never find the baby. Unfortunately, she slipped and said something about her sister. That was all it took. He told her what he’d done to Horace and when she tried to get away from him, he stabbed her, too.”
“And the baby?” Eloise asked.
“He knew her sister lived in Los Angeles on the east side. He put Water Boy on it and he found her and the baby. I don’t know what happened to the sister, but Water Boy returned with the baby and turned him over to my grandfather. That’s when Water Boy started blackmail
ing him. Grandfather disappeared for a while with the baby, but he couldn’t stay away.”
“This story has way too many twists and turns,” I said. “So two people were blackmailing your grandfather. And your father knew about his beginnings?”
“He did eventually.”
“Does your mother know the story?”
“Yes, but she’d deny it if you asked her about it. She didn’t like my grandfather because he was deceitful and a bully. He never got past being a bully. It didn’t matter to him that he was rich and he could have anything he wanted. He liked bullying people.”
“Did he bully you?” I asked, speaking softly.
He nodded. “Every time he told me more of the story, he was bullying me. He knew I didn’t like what I was hearing, but he also knew I’d keep my mouth shut because of the wineries. He knew that I felt too many people depended on the Windsor family and I didn’t want to let them down.”
The three of us sat quietly.
Marcus kept reaching for his pocket, and something didn’t feel right. Each time he’d stop speaking before putting his hand in the pocket.
Eloise had been very quiet throughout the telling of what had happened. She opened her mouth as though to say something, but closed it again.
There was so much information to take in.
“Was your father anything like Rusty?” Eloise asked.
“Not by a long shot. He hated his father – passionately. I think he figured the old man would die off and he could start setting things right, although I don’t know how he could have done that.”
“I had my suspicions about Rusty,” I said.
“Can you understand why I don’t want any of this to come out?” Marcus asked.
“I can, but you know the police have to be told. Rusty’s gone, so he can’t hurt anyone else.”
He patted his pocket before speaking, and he sounded bitter when he spoke. “Sure he can. A lot of people depend on our company and its good name to make a living. And there’s my mother. She’ll be devastated if people know what he did. Me? He ruined me by bragging about what he did. I guess I don’t matter anymore, but others do.”
“I have a particular homicide detective in mind, and I think if I talk to him we can keep this quiet. After all, it happened so many years ago. What good would it do to bring it to light now?”
Eloise fidgeted. “What about Detective Humin? Did your grandfather murder him, too?”
“No, that was Water Boy, but my grandfather told him to get rid of him. He was coming too close to the truth.”
“Water Boy denied killing him,” I said.
A look of fear crossed Marcus’ face.
He put his hand in his pocket and I knew something was going on, although he was empty-handed when he pulled his hand out.
Chapter Forty-one
“It had to be Water Boy,” Marcus said. “Grandfather said – “
“Would this be the same grandfather who liked taking credit for his bad behavior?” I asked. “If your grandfather had killed Humin, he probably would have bragged about it. Water Boy fessed up to other crimes, but he adamantly stated that he hadn’t murdered a cop.”
“I think I might have the answer,” Eloise said, speaking hesitantly. “The only two people left are Prescott Strong and, uh, your father. I’m sorry, Marcus, but I think your father killed Humin.”
I’d had the same thought, but decided it was better left unsaid.
“No! I won’t listen to this. You’re wrong. My father wasn’t anything like my grandfather. He was a kind-hearted man, a good man. The best thing I ever did was dump my grandfather out of his wheelchair. If my father murdered Humin, then Grandfather turned him into a monster, too.”
“People do strange things when they’re faced with reality and exposure,” Eloise said.
“Thank you, Eloise. You just made my decision for me.” Marcus had an expression of grief and pain on his face, which could lead him to do anything. He was scaring me almost as much as Water Boy had. He stood and faced us with his back to the old bar.
“Marcus – “
“I’m sorry, Sandi, but this is the way it has to be.” He pulled a knife out of his pocket.
“Marcus, no!” I said.
“First you two, and then myself,” he said. “It has to end this way.”
“Marcus, what about your mother? And you’ve got children.”
Thankfully the man was too upset to notice my poker face slip away when I saw a hand slide up on top of the bar.
Eloise grabbed my arm. She’d seen it, too.
The knuckles turned white as someone used the bar to pull himself up.
Pete! He slowly stood and pointed a gun at Windsor.
Marcus took a step toward me.
“Marcus,” I said, “you don’t want to do this. You’re not anything like your father or your grandfather. You’re the good man. You’re the man who cares about his mother and the people dependent on you for their livelihood. I know there’s a lot of pressure on you, but you’re up to it. You can handle it. You’re the one with morals and a conscience.”
He hesitated before taking another step forward.
Pete used his other hand to steady the one holding the gun.
Shaking my head, I hoped he’d understand I didn’t want him to shoot.
I plowed right on. “Don’t make things worse than they are. Your father probably felt cornered, like he had no choice. And it could have been Prescott. He was bleeding your family dry. So was Water Boy. You’re not like any of them.
“Besides, I just found out that my best friend is going to have a baby. I want to be here to see that child come into the world. I’m going to be the child’s godmother, for heaven sake. Don’t deny me that.”
I wasn’t sure why Felicity had come to mind.
Marcus looked even more grief stricken. He lifted the knife and took another step toward me. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what else to do. There were four murders. What’s two more to my family?”
“Two too many,” Pete said. “Put the knife down, Windsor.”
Marcus’ shoulders tightened, but he didn’t turn around.
“I…,” he began. He looked uncertain.
“Marcus, please listen to us,” I said, taking a step back and away from him.
He lowered his head and his hand shook.
“Do it now,” Pete said.
He looked me in the eyes before gently setting the knife on the chair he’d been sitting in. “I don’t have it in me. You’re right. I’m not like them.”
Pete walked around the end of the bar. He was limping and he winced.
I could see a patrol car and another vehicle pull up behind my Jeep. Pete had called in the cavalry, even if they were a little late.
Rick hurried in and started asking questions.
He had a patrolman take Marcus away.
“Pete, how did you get in here?” I asked.
“Rick told me where the secret door was.”
“And why are you limping?”
He shook his leg. “I’m not anymore. I’ve been sitting behind that bar since one o’clock. My legs got cramped. I couldn’t move because I didn’t want Marcus to hear me.”
“Well, if you two don’t beat all,” Eloise said. “You solved the case, just saved my life, and found a secret door to boot. Where is it?”
She followed Pete to the storeroom and he showed her where it was. They returned with another tin can.
“We missed one?” I asked.
“No, this is one we already emptied,” Pete said.
“Why do you suppose there was a secret door?” Eloise asked.
“I would imagine that’s where Rusty delivered the booze. I’d also imagine that’s how he left after killing Loretta.” Pete thought he had it all figured out. Maybe he did.
“Talk about dirty little secrets,” I said. “This family has them coming out their ears.”
“It seems my family had some secrets, too,” Eloise said
. “Hidden rooms, secret doors, tin cans full of money. I hate to think what we might find next.”
“I think it’s over now,” I said. “You have one heck of a story to tell your son. If you’re able to keep the money we found, you’ll be living on Easy Street for a long time to come. And now you’ve got Butch to keep you company, too. I’d say you came out on the good end of things.”
All of a sudden, out of the blue, I started to shake. I felt almost, but not quite, dizzy. Pete and Rick each took an elbow and sat me down on the chair.
Eloise nodded her head and spoke rapidly. “Everything that’s happened has finally caught up to you. I’d call it a delayed reaction.” She ran her hand across her forehead. “I didn’t go through nearly what you did, and I feel a bit woozy myself. You’d think after spending my working years around dead bodies, I’d be just fine. Of course, they were dead. Marcus wasn’t. And the story he told was almost too much to take in. Those were some dreadful people. I – “
She was too excited and I could see a fine spray coming from her mouth. She pulled a tissue out of her pocket and patted her mouth.
Pete and Rick helped her to the chair next to me.
“Thank you,” she said.
Rick left to take care of the situation with Marcus.
Before he left, I said, “I honestly don’t think he would have followed through on his threat. Please keep that in mind. He’s had more than his share to deal with.”
Rick didn’t reply, just shaking his head.
“Okay, you ladies sit and try to calm down. I think food will help. I’m going to bring back something to eat before we leave this place. I saw a home cookin’ restaurant down the street. What would you like to eat?”
We gave him our orders, which included whatever sounded good to him, and he said he’d be back soon.
“Bring back some chocolate,” I hollered after him.
I glanced at Eloise. She appeared calmer.
“We do have something in common,” I said. “You’ve spent a good part of your life around dead bodies, and I keep finding them.”
She hiccupped.
For some reason that struck me funny and I started to laugh.
