Coulson's Reckoning

by McIntyre, Anna J

  “I don’t understand, why did he mention me?”

  “Oh,” Sophie squirmed nervously in her seat, wanting to kick herself for asking about the handsome restaurateur. “When we started talking he mentioned he used to go to the cemetery a lot after his father died, sometimes with his cousin who was recently married.”

  “Umm, he didn’t say cousin, did he?”

  “No, not exactly. Something along the lines of going there with his old girlfriend.”

  “Never knew Adam was such a chatty guy.”

  “He just mentioned you were very supportive during that time, and that you were there for him. Umm, I might have asked if you were still his girlfriend, which is why he mentioned you were his step-cousin now and recently married.”

  Kim laughed and then said, “Ahh, now I see. Are you interested? He is a great guy.”

  “Who’s a great guy?” Nick asked as he walked into the room.

  “Adam. Sophie met him at the cemetery,” Kim explained. Nick grabbed himself a beer from the small cooler in the bar and sat in the chair next to his wife.

  “What is Adam doing hanging out in the cemetery?”

  “Sounds like he was visiting Ryan’s grave. Gee, I wonder if he’s okay. I don’t think it’s Ryan’s birthday or anything.”

  “I’m more curious about why you were at the cemetery.” Nick directed his question to Sophie.

  “Nick,” Kim scolded. “You shouldn’t pry.”

  “Oh, forget that. Sophie’s going to be staying here for a month. She’ll have to get used to my prying.”

  “Good way to chase away guests, Nick Meyers!” Kim playfully slapped Nick’s knee. He laughed and leaned over and kissed his wife’s mouth.

  “Kim is right. It really is none of my business. But you have to admit, a visit to a cemetery does sound intriguing.”

  “That’s okay.” Sophie laughed. “I stopped by to see my grandfather’s grave.”

  “Your grandfather lived in Coulson?” Kim asked.

  “Only for a very short time. He died about fifty years ago. In fact, I didn’t know anything about him until a few months ago. I wanted to see where he was buried.”

  “Ah-ha! So that’s why you’re here! A genealogical expedition.” Kim sounded pleased with herself for coming up with the explanation.

  “In a way, yes, that’s why I’m here.”

  “Do you have family in the area you’ll be looking up?” Nick asked.

  “As a matter of a fact, I do.” Kim looked Nick in the eyes and smiled. “You.”

  “Excuse me?” Nick frowned.

  “We’re cousins, Nick.”

  Chapter 5

  “Cousins?” Franklin Myers asked from the doorway. The three younger people looked up at Franklin and watched as he entered the room.

  “Yes. Your son is my cousin. I think it’s second cousin, not sure the correct term. Nick’s maternal grandmother was my grandfather’s sister,” Sophie explained. She nervously watched Franklin’s reaction. She didn’t know how much he knew about his wife’s family, and she wasn’t sure he would be thrilled to discover an in-law might have been a hitman—if he didn’t already know. Some people preferred to keep their family’s skeletons in the closet, while others viewed information like this as colorful family history.

  “Are you sure? I was under the impression my mother-in-law didn’t have any family. Of course, I never met her. She died when my wife was very young.” Franklin sat on the loveseat next to Sophie.

  “Yes. I really have no reason to doubt the information. Actually, I just found out about my grandfather a few months ago. I mean, I knew I had a grandfather, obviously. But I didn’t know anything about him.” Sophie picked up her purse, removed the envelope, and handed the envelope to Franklin.

  “We found this letter in my grandmother’s things after she died this past summer.”

  Franklin took the envelope yet didn’t remove the letter. He looked at the return address; it was for the bed and breakfast—when still a boarding house.

  “Nick Carracci,” Franklin read aloud the name penned on the envelope above the handwritten address. “That was my father-in-law’s name. And it definitely looks like his signature. He was left handed and had a very distinctive handwriting.”

  “Go ahead and read the letter,” Sophie urged.

  Reluctantly, Franklin removed the worn page from the tattered envelope and began to read. When he finished, he refolded the letter and slipped it back into the envelope before returning it to Sophie.

  “Nick, it seems this lovely young woman is your cousin,” Franklin announced before redirecting his conversation back to Sophie.

  “Sophie, I take it Carmen was your grandmother?” Franklin asked then added, “And Tony your father?”

  “Yes to both questions. Dad was named after his father. Anthony Marino. Tony is his nickname. Dad’s parents separated when he was just a baby. He never saw his father again. Dad was pretty young when Grandfather was murdered.”

  “Your grandfather was murdered?” Franklin asked.

  “Yes. I thought, perhaps you might know something about the story. He was murdered in Coulson back in 1960.”

  “So that’s what my father-in-law meant when he wrote they may never know. In the letter, he was referring to the murder.”

  “I think so, from what I can piece together by the letters and news clippings I found in my grandmother’s things.”

  “He was murdered?” Nick spoke up. “Dad, why haven’t I ever heard about this? I don’t recall Grandpa ever mentioning anything about his brother-in-law getting murdered or that he even had one. And you say he’s buried in Coulson?”

  “Yes. Like I mentioned, this afternoon I visited his grave.” Sophie stood up for a moment and handed the letter to Nick, then sat back down.

  “Go ahead and read the letter, if you’d like. It’s from your grandfather to my grandmother. By the letter, I got the impression my grandfather was buried next to your grandmother, but when I went to the cemetery today, I found your grandparents’ graves in the general area, but not right next to my grandfather.”

  “Who murdered him?” Kim asked.

  “From what I’ve discovered, it’s never been solved.”

  “Is that why you’re here, to solve the family mystery?” Nick asked with a grin after finishing the letter. He handed it to Kim to read.

  “Sort of. I don’t imagine I’ll solve the mystery, considering it happened over fifty years ago. But I was curious to see if I can learn more. But, there is something you should know about my grandfather. After you hear it, you might prefer I don’t stay here.”

  “Intriguing.” Nick sounded more amused than concerned.

  “I believe my grandfather might have been involved in organized crime. According to the news clippings, some believe he was a hitman.

  “A hitman? A murder?” Kim glanced up from the letter she was reading.

  “Apparently, he disappeared while staying in Coulson. About ten years or so after his disappearance, they found his car in Sutter’s Lake. A few years after that, they found his body buried up by the lake. I couldn’t find anything online about the case, but from the newspaper clippings my grandmother saved, I don’t believe they solved his murder.”

  Kim glanced to her husband. “Another murder, another killer. But this time, your family, not mine.” Kim returned the letter to Sophie. She didn’t seem upset, but Sophie found her words peculiar.

  “I don’t understand,” Sophie said as she sat back down and returned the letter to her purse.

  “I’m sorry. I just assumed you already knew. It was in all the papers a few years back,” Kim explained.

  “What was in the papers?” Sophie asked.

  “My birth father was Senator Harrison Coulson,” Kim explained.

  “He was the one who shot that woman and was killed by someone else? Originally they assumed there was one killer, but it was two?” Sophie’s comment was more a question.

  “Yes. The wo
man was my mother,” Kim said in a somber tone.

  “Oh my, I’m so sorry to hear that.”

  “I suppose I shouldn’t have mentioned it,” Kim said. “But it just hit me as so odd. Coulson has always been such a small, quiet town. Nothing sinister ever happens there. But apparently, it’s been the site of not just one, but two sensational murders. I’m surprised I’ve never heard about your grandfather before.”

  “Well, Adam had,” Sophie said. “In fact, according to Adam, his mother and her sister found my grandfather’s body when they were still in high school. I think it was the sister who first came across it.”

  “Aunt Kate? I’ve never heard that story before. Funny, I don’t recall hearing anything about it,” Kim puzzled.

  “She’s your aunt, too?” Sophie asked.

  “Yes. While I never knew my birth father, I’m quite close to his brothers, my Uncle Garret and Uncle Russell. Uncle Russell is married to Kate, and Uncle Garret is married to Adam’s mother, Alex.

  “I grew up with Adam. We started dating my junior year, right after his father, Ryan Keller, was killed in a car accident. Adam and I broke up before high school graduation. About the same time Adam left for college, his mother married Garret Coulson. At the time, I had no idea I was related to Garret. I didn’t find out until my mother was murdered.”

  “Oh my, Kim, I thought my story was complicated!”

  “You have no idea.” Kim chuckled, then patted Nick on the knee and gave Franklin a little smile.

  “So, what are your plans?” Franklin asked Kim.

  “Actually, today was far more productive than I could have hoped for. It was just a fluke that I met Adam and learned about his aunt finding the body. He promised to arrange a meeting with them. Not sure what they know or remember, but I would love to talk to them. Then I’m planning to go down to the police station and see what they have in their files.”

  “Sounds intriguing,” Nick said. “There’s a trunk in the attic with some of my grandparents’ things. Maybe we can find something up there. I remember seeing a box of old photographs; perhaps we can find one of your grandfather.”

  “I’d love that!” Sophie said excitedly. “So, it doesn’t bother you, me being here, digging around in the past, considering it may turn out to be an unsavory bit of family history?”

  “Not at all,” Franklin insisted. “But I don’t feel right taking your money. You should stay as our guest.”

  “Absolutely not!” Sophie insisted. “I won’t be a freeloader. You have a business to run, and I’m not about to take one of your rooms from a paying customer. Anyway, you gave me a very generous discount when I made the reservation.”

  “Well, at least agree to take the evening meals with us,” Franklin said.

  “Okay, providing you allow me to cook sometimes.”

  “You cook?” Nick asked, grinning over at Kim, who avoided the kitchen. Kim laughed and gave him a playful punch in the arm.

  “Yes. Actually, I went to culinary school. Until recently, I worked in my father’s restaurant. My grandmother started it when Dad was just a baby. It’s a small, Italian restaurant, very traditional with a loyal following.

  “Nick’s mother was an excellent cook. She often did the cooking when this was a boarding house.”

  “You said until recently. You no longer work in your family’s restaurant?” Kim asked.

  “No, I decided to take a little break, figure out what I want to do. I had been staying with my grandmother before she died, sort of taking care of her. After she passed away, we decided to sell her house. It should close escrow any day now. Figured if I wanted to take a sabbatical of sorts, this would be a good time.”

  “Why don’t we take this conversation into the dining room,” Franklin said, standing up. “There’s chili in the Crockpot waiting for us, and frankly, I’m hungry. Especially after all this talk of food.”

  “Would you mind if I go to my room first? I’d like to wash up before dinner,” Sophie asked as she stood.

  “Certainly. Here, let me show you where your room is,” Franklin offered.

  “We’ll meet you two in the dining room,” Nick said, reaching out and placing his hand on Kim’s knee, silently telling her to stay seated.

  “What’s wrong?” Kim asked after Franklin and Sophie left the room.

  “I wanted to tell you something. When I went out to bring in Sophie’s luggage, I got a call from Sam Peterson.”

  “The police chief?”

  “Yes. He thought we should know they’ve released Angela Carter.”

  “Angela?” Kim frowned. “I don’t understand.”

  “She’s out on parole. I guess she’s staying with her father.”

  “Parole? She killed Emily Mitchell, how can they let her out on parole? The woman is a sociopath; she ran that poor woman down in cold blood.”

  “I pretty much asked Sam the same thing. He reminded me that the jury in the case was convinced her actions were the result of some sort of mental breakdown. Apparently, the powers that be believe she’s now sane and no longer a threat. I have no idea how all this works or why they let her out. But she’s out, and I’m not happy.”

  “I wonder if Adam knows.”

  “I’m sure Sam called him. I’m sure your entire family knows by now.”

  “I haven’t gotten any phone calls yet.”

  “You know what’s funny?”

  “Nick, none of this is funny.”

  “I don’t mean funny ha ha. But when you told Sophie there have been two sensational murders in Coulson, there really have been three. You didn’t include Emily’s. Four, if you count the Senator’s, but in fairness to Joe Carter, that was more self-defense.”

  “She’s returning to Coulson?”

  “According to Sam, it was part of the term of her release.”

  “It just proves how screwed up our judicial system is. Angela was living with her father when she killed Emily. And if he hadn’t concealed what happened to my mother and Harrison, then Emily would still be alive. I think they should both be in jail.”

  “I agree. But I don’t think that’s going to happen. We just need to be careful. I don’t trust the woman. Who knows what she’s capable of doing or what grudges she clings to?”

  “One thing we do know, Angela can be a very dangerous woman.”

  Chapter 6

  Driving faster than he should, Adam Keller sped up the long driveway leading to Coulson House. When he got to the top of the drive, he spied his mother’s car, along with Russell Coulson’s, parked in front of the massive three-storied estate. Kim’s car was nowhere in sight, but he suspected she was up at Clement Falls. She normally was on weekends.

  Abruptly parking the vehicle, he exited and slammed the car door shut and hastily made his way up to the front entrance of the estate. Impatiently, he rang the bell. Had the door been unlocked, he would have been tempted to just go in. The moment the maid opened the door, Adam walked in and asked where his mother was.

  “They’re in the living room,” the maid called after him as he went into the house uninvited.

  “Sorry to barge in,” Adam said as he walked into the living room. His mother, Alexandra Keller Coulson, sat with her husband, Garret, her father-in-law, Harrison Coulson, and her sister, Kate, and Kate’s husband, Russell. Russell was also Garret’s brother. The five were all seated in front of the blazing fireplace, each with a cocktail in hand. Looking up at her son, Alexandra didn’t seem surprised to see him, even though he normally worked at the restaurant on Friday evenings.

  “So, you heard?” Alexandra asked, watching Adam enter the room.

  “You know about Angela?” Adam inquired.

  “Garret, make the boy a drink. He looks like he could use one,” Harrison ordered from his wheelchair. Without saying a word, Garret stood and walked to the bar in the corner of the room and began pouring his stepson a glass of bourbon.

  “Sam called Harrison and told him. How did you know where to find us
?” Alex asked.

  “I called home. Sarah said you’d come over to have dinner with her grandfather. Why didn’t you call me?” Adam asked. Garret walked to Adam and handed him the drink. Adam nodded his thanks, took the glass, and sat in one of the chairs next to his Aunt Kate, facing his mother.

  “I’m so sorry, Adam. I can’t believe they let her out,” Kate said, reaching over and patting her nephew’s knee.

  “I didn’t want to disturb you at work; I saw no reason. Did Sam call you?” Alex asked.

  “Yes. I tried calling your cell, but I got your voicemail.”

  “I’m sorry; I left my phone at home. I had no idea I’d be getting the news about Angela when we arrived tonight. It came as a complete surprise.”

  “There was no way I could stay at work. Especially since I’m fairly certain she was following me today.” Adam took a sip of his drink.

  “What do you mean?” Garret asked with a frown.

  “It’s sort of a long story.” Adam shifted uncomfortably in his chair, not wanting to explain his visit to the cemetery.

  “Adam, you can’t just say something like that and then not explain yourself,” Alex said.

  “Was she at the restaurant?” Russell asked.

  “If she was, you should call Sam,” Harrison said. “From what I understand, under the terms of the release she is supposed to stay away from you. She certainly shouldn’t be going to your restaurant.”

  “No, I don’t think she was at the restaurant.”

  “Well, then what is it?” Alex snapped impatiently.

  “This afternoon, I went to the cemetery to visit Dad’s grave.”

  “Is everything okay, Adam?” Alex looked concerned.

  “Aside from Angela, yes. I just felt like going there.”

  “Did you run into Angela at the cemetery?” Kate asked.

  “No, but when I first got there, I had the strangest feeling I was being watched. When I looked up, there was a woman standing behind some trees. She seemed to be staring at me. All I could tell was that it was a woman, tall and slender, but I couldn’t see her face. Fred showed up, and she took off in the opposite direction. I didn’t think too much about it until I met another woman in the cemetery, and we started talking.”