“That’s a leap,” Russell said. “I can’t imagine what motive Angela would have to hurt Myrtle.”
“Adam wonders if Myrtle caught Angela snooping around his house, which would be a violation of her probation,” Alex said.
“I just know there’s too much drama in our lives right now,” Garret grumbled.
“Is Sophie still with Adam?” Kate asked. “Is there something going on between those two?”
“I don’t know.” Alex shrugged. “He did make a point of telling me she stayed in the guest room, and last night they stayed up at Clement Falls. Sophie stayed at the B and B, while Adam stayed at our cabin.”
“If Sophie is staying up at Clement Falls instead of Coulson, then there’s less chance she’ll be quizzing us on her grandfather, and that gives us some time to get a better grasp of the situation,” Garret said.
“If I’m reading these diaries right, our grandfather put the hit out on Anthony Marino. Excuse me—the man we presumed was our grandfather,” Russell said.
“We’ve got two separate issues here,” Garret reminded. “The first is the fact Randall really isn’t our grandfather, at least not biologically. The second is his—and our parents’—part in Anthony Marino’s death. While I don’t really care about what people think about me, I do care about our daughters.”
“What about the Coulson estate?” Kate asked. “Could someone contest Randall’s will?”
“No. Basically what we have here is a paternity fraud case, and that term wasn’t even around at the time of Randall’s death,” Garret explained. “You have to remember, back when Mary Ellen and Randall married, the husband was considered the master of the home, and any child a wife bore, regardless of who fathered the child, was practically property of the husband. And don’t forget what else those diaries revealed—Randall was probably gay. He may have always known Harrison wasn’t his biological child. But he was his legal child.”
“What I’m trying to figure out is who put those diaries up on that shelf in the first place?” Kate asked.
“We know it wasn’t Mary Ellen, considering Randall didn’t start writing in his until after she died,” Alex pointed out.
“If Dad put them there, it was obviously before his stroke. And if he was the one to put them there, it means he knows Randall wasn’t really his father,” Garret said.
“Unless he never got around to reading the diaries,” Kate suggested. “Kim didn’t read them when she initially found them.”
“I might be tempted to argue with you,” Garret said. “But considering Randall’s atrocious handwriting, I could see Dad putting it somewhere where no one would find it, intending to read it later. And if he had his stroke before he got back to them, then that is possible. I don’t think probable, but possible.”
“It’s also possible Harrison doesn’t know about the books and that Randall hid them on the shelf before his death,” Kate suggested.
“The only problem with that, Randall never mentions finding Mary Ellen’s diary—just the opposite. There are a number of entries where he writes about still looking for it,” Russell reminded.
“We’re forgetting another scenario,” Alex suggested. “Perhaps it wasn’t Randall or Harrison. Maybe someone from the household staff found them and put them up there.”
“That’s a troubling possibility,” Garret said.
“We’re also forgetting someone else—Harrison Junior. He lived at Coulson House for years. I don’t suspect it was Shelly, considering she wouldn’t hesitate to use any information against the family. But Harrison—I don’t imagine the information in those diaries would have helped his political career,” Alex said.
“You have a point. But I can’t see our brother hiding the diaries. He would have destroyed them. But let’s forget for a moment about who put them in that box—but focus on what we learned regarding Anthony Marino,” Russell said. “I understand Sophie’s desire to find out who killed her grandfather, and why, but I really don’t feel comfortable telling her our mother may have been having an affair with Marino, and our grandfather ordered the hit—or open speculation as to what our father knew about the murder. After all, there is no statute of limitations on murder.”
“I don’t think anyone is suggesting we tell Sophie what we’ve found out,” Garret glanced at Alex. “And, honey, that means you can’t share any of this with Adam. At least, not right now.”
“I don’t intend to. Adam doesn’t need to be put in the middle of this. I think this is one time when ignorance is truly bliss.”
“So, what do we do, nothing?” Kate asked. “You know Sophie is bound to ask more questions, and I’ve never been a good liar.”
“We also have Kim to consider. She knows we read the diaries. She’s going to be asking if we found anything. We can’t expect her to lie to Nick, and Nick is Sophie’s cousin. Damn, this is complicated.” Alex frowned.
“Perhaps it would be prudent for me to do a little more research into Anthony Marino,” Garret suggested. “I get the impression Sophie just started digging, and she hasn’t talked to anyone in the FBI yet. They must have more on him, considering they came looking for Marino before they had any idea he had been murdered. From what I recall, they suspected he was responsible for a hit in Reno.”
“What will that solve?” Alex asked.
“For one thing, it may paint a negative picture of Marino. You have to admit, if the story comes out about our grandfather initiating the hit, it will look better for the family if Randall comes off as an avenging angel instead of the man who murdered his daughter-in-law’s lover.”
“What do we say to Kim in the meantime?” Kate asked.
“For now, we tell her to simply trust us and don’t give her any details. I think we need to learn more, to have a clearer picture of what really went down.”
“We’re all forgetting the obvious,” Alex spoke up.
“What’s that?” Kate frowned.
“Ask Harrison what he knows. Vera was his wife. If she was having an affair with Anthony Marino, and his father had the man killed, don’t you think he knew what happened back then?”
“You are kidding, aren’t you?” Garret asked.
“No, not really.”
“As much as my father drives me insane sometimes, I don’t think I could do that. He’s not a young man, and what if he has no idea about any of this?”
“Are you saying you don’t think he was the one who put the diaries in that box? Do you really believe someone from the household staff did it?” Alex challenged.
“No…”
“I understand Garret’s reluctance,” Russell spoke up. “It’s entirely possible he never read Randall’s diary, considering the handwriting. It’s also possible there was no affair between Mother and Marino. We’re reading between the lines here because of those letters Marino gave me.”
“I just wonder what Randall meant when he talks about sending Vera away so she can be safe. It does sound more ominous than an affair,” Kate said. “And doesn’t it coincide with the timeline for when she was supposedly away having therapy for her injured ankle?”
“Yes. And I also remember giving my father a rash of shit when Mother left without saying goodbye, which could be what Grandfather meant when he said I asked too many questions.”
“Guys, you haven’t told us what you feel—about Mary Ellen’s revelation,” Alex asked.
“What do you mean how we feel?” Russell frowned.
“Oh, come on, Russy, you know what Alex is asking,” Kate chided. “You were both raised with this Coulson pride thing. How do you feel knowing it was… well, all a lie?”
“I suppose,” Garret began, “I feel the same way a person feels when he learns he’s adopted. Honestly, the world is not crashing down on me. I’ve never had a burning desire to carry on the family name. Hell, for most of my life, I never considered having children. I’m naturally curious. I wonder how much my father knew. I’d like to learn more about William Hunter. A
nd as for Randall, for most of my life, I thought he was a controlling son-of-a-bitch, but when I am totally honest with myself, I have to admit he was always there for me. He was there for all of us over the years.”
“It explains a lot,” Russell added. “I remember John Weber. He often spent holidays with us over the years. Mom used to say it was because he didn’t have a family. His wife died before he moved to Coulson, and he didn’t have any children.”
“What happened to him?” Alex asked.
“He died about six months before Randall. A heart attack. But I do remember Grandfather took his death very hard,” Garret recalled. “Now that I think about it, he really went down hill after John’s death.”
“How sad,” Alex murmured. “Can you imagine living your entire life in the closet? Pretending the person you love is just a good friend?”
“I just realized something,” Garret picked up his grandfather’s ledger off the coffee table and turned to the back page. “I was right.”
“What?” Alex asked.
“Randall’s last entry was written prior to John’s death, because he mentions him as if he’s still alive. And considering when Randall died, it looks like he stopped writing in the ledger about the time John died.”
Chapter 30
Coulson Cemetery’s front parking lot was more than half-full when Adam and Sophie arrived for Myrtle’s funeral on Thursday morning. Cars were still pulling into the parking lot after they got out of the vehicle and started walking toward the front gate.
Once again, it was much warmer in Coulson than it had been at Clement Falls that morning, with temperatures in the low seventies and clear skies overhead. At the last minute, Sophie decided to leave her jacket in the car, believing she wouldn’t need it, as the service would be taking place in the chapel.
“Do you think they’re all here for your neighbor’s funeral?” Sophie asked Adam.
“Looks like it. Thanks again for coming with me.”
“Hey, Adam!” a man called out from the parking lot. Adam stopped and looked in the direction of the caller.
“Uncle Jimmy!” Adam walked toward the man, giving him a brief hug. Silently, Sophie watched. If she didn’t know better, Sophie would guess the man was Adam’s father, considering the resemblance.
“Sophie, I’d like you to meet my Uncle Jimmy. Uncle Jimmy, this is Sophie Marino.”
“Please, call me Jim.” Jim smiled, putting out his hand for Sophie. “I’m afraid some family members refuse to abandon my childhood nickname. Very nice to meet you, Sophie.”
“Nice to meet you, too. You must be the Uncle Jimmy who grew up at the Cliffwood Motel; you’re Adam’s father’s brother.”
“I’m flattered,” Jim said before glancing at Adam. “You’ve told her all about me?”
“Something like that. Where’s Aunt Jill?”
“She came early, brought her own car. Jill wanted to visit her mother’s grave and leave some flowers. I offered to come with her, but I think she wanted a private moment.”
The three walked through the front gate.
“I have to admit I’m curious. How did the topic of the Cliffwood Motel come up? Seems no one even remembers it used to be there.”
“My grandfather was Anthony Marino.”
Jimmy stopped walking and looked at her. “You mean the one who stayed at my dad’s motel when I was a kid?”
“Yes. The one who was murdered and buried at Sutter’s Lake.”
“Wow, that’s a blast from the past. Obviously, you never knew your grandfather, since that happened, what, over fifty years ago?”
“Fifty-three,” Sophie said. They started walking toward the chapel.
“I never realized he had any kids. Did you say your last name is Marino?”
“Yes.”
“Then I guess your father was Marino’s son?”
“He was.”
“Did they ever find out who killed him?” Jim asked.
“No. I was hoping I might find out something about my grandfather by coming to Coulson. I know today is not the best time to discuss this, with Myrtle’s funeral and all, but perhaps you would be willing to talk to me later about my grandfather?”
“Sure. But honestly, I don’t really know what I can tell you. I was pretty young when he lived at the motel, and it was only for about a month. I remember he was nice to us. Left candy in the mailbox each morning so we’d stay away from his room, which we did. So, if he ever had any visitors, we never saw them. Sorry. That’s about all I have.”
“But weren’t you there when they found his body?”
“Sure, but we didn’t know who it was at the time. I suspected it might be him because his car was found in the lake a couple of years earlier. Have you talked to Adam’s mother and Aunt Kate about that? They were both there that day, too. Kate was the first to come across the grave.”
“Yes.”
The conversation was interrupted when a blond woman joined the threesome. She was introduced as Jill Keller, Jim’s wife. If Jimmy was curious as to how his nephew happened to be escorting Anthony Marino’s granddaughter to Myrtle’s funeral, he didn’t ask. Instead, the conversation turned to the deceased and the tragic circumstances of her death. Neither Adam nor Sophie mentioned that the death was a possible homicide. By the conversation, it was obvious neither Jim nor Jill considered the possibility.
When they reached the building, Sophie recognized a number of familiar faces. Standing in a small group not far from the building’s entrance were Alex, Garret, Kate, Russell, Nick, and Kim, along with a few others she did not recognize. They joined the group, and soon Sophie was being introduced to people whose names she doubted she would remember. Yet, one new name stood out; it was Tom Chamberlain, Alex and Kate’s older brother. Sophie recalled he had been with Russell when the police had pulled her grandfather’s car from the lake.
Silently, Sophie listened to the group as they discussed Myrtle. Having never met the woman, she didn’t contribute to the conversation. She did notice that no one mentioned the questionable circumstances of her death, though she knew Adam had shared with his mother the information Molly had given him.
“Did you see who’s here?” Jill asked in a hushed voice.
“Who?” someone asked.
“Angela Carter,” Jill whispered.
“Angela’s here?” Adam asked with a frown, looking around for his ex-fiancée in the crowd gathering around the chapel.
“I saw her when I first got here. She was with her father,” Jill explained.
“I guess that doesn’t surprise me,” Garret said. “Joe and Myrtle’s husband used to play poker together.”
“We should probably go inside,” Tom Chamberlain suggested.
Adam glanced around the crowd, looking for Angela, as their group began filing into the building leading to the chapel.
“Do you see her?” Sophie whispered.
“No.”
“She’s probably already in the chapel. We should just go inside,” Sophie suggested.
Frigid air assaulted Adam and Sophie the moment they walked inside the building. By reflex, Sophie wrapped her arms around herself and shivered.
“Did someone put the air conditioning on?” she asked.
“Or forgot to turn on the heater,” Adam said. “Let me go get your coat.”
“No, I can do it. Give me your car keys. Myrtle was your friend; you don’t want to miss the beginning of her service. Just save me a seat.”
Sophie never showed up for the service. Throughout the memorial, Adam continually glanced at the back door.
“Did Sophie decide not to come in?” Alex asked when the service was over, and they all stood up to go outside and walk to the gravesite.
“I guess so,” Adam said. “She went back to the car to get her coat.”
“What’s with this place anyway? It’s freezing in here!” Katie whispered.
“I thought she was coming back,” Adam said as he walked with his group to the
door.
“Maybe she changed her mind,” Alex suggested. “After all, she didn’t know Myrtle. I’m sure she’s waiting for you outside.”
“Well, I hope so.” Adam chuckled. “She does have my car keys.”
When they got outside, Sophie was nowhere in sight. Removing his cell phone from his pocket, Adam dialed Sophie’s number. The call went to her voicemail.
“That’s odd; she isn’t answering.”
“Didn’t you say she went to the car to get her jacket?” Kate asked.
“Yes.”
“Maybe she decided to wait in the car. She’s probably talking on her phone; that’s why she didn’t answer.”
“I imagine you’re right. I’ll meet you all at the gravesite. I’m going to check on Sophie first.”
As the mourners moved from the building toward the gravesite, Adam walked in the opposite direction, heading to the front parking lot. When he spied his car, the first thing he noticed was that the door on the passenger side was open. Adam smiled and started walking a little faster.
He understood Sophie’s change of heart at the last minute, choosing not to attend the funeral service. After all, she had never met the deceased. Adam wondered if Sophie would like to borrow his car while he attended the gravesite portion of the service. He could easily get a ride from one of his family and meet Sophie back in town. There was no reason for her to spend the next hour in his car at the cemetery parking lot.
When Adam got to his car, he found Sophie’s purse sitting on the passenger seat, along with his car keys, and the jacket she’d come to retrieve. Yet, there was no Sophie. Dread washed over Adam. Pulling the phone from his back pocket, he dialed Sophie’s number. Her purse began to ring.
“Did you get into some sort of argument?” Sam Peterson asked Adam Keller an hour later. Adam stood in the cemetery parking lot surrounded by a small group of concerned family and friends.
Coulson's Reckoning Page 18
