by Cindy Bell
Inside the closet Samantha was plotting a novel. She was fairly certain that she could pull it off in just a few weeks. She had already mentally created a colorful cast of characters, all of which had some kind of personal flaw that she found downright amusing. She was already writing the first chapter in her mind when she noticed that Walt's steady, regular breathing had stopped. In fact it didn't seem like he was breathing at all.
Samantha thought she might be mistaken and leaned closer to the closet door. She listened intently and waited for the sound to begin again. After a few moments she still didn't hear any type of breathing. Her mind began to spin with all of the explanations for this. Had Walt stopped breathing in his sleep? Had Abe already broken in and gotten to Walt without her realizing it? If only she had paid closer attention she might have known. She was nearly in a panic as she reached for the doorknob. If Walt needed help she had to get out there and help him, it didn't matter what risk she might be taking. Just when she was about to turn the knob on the closet door she heard Walt sigh. It was a soft, slow sound, but it was a sound of life that she needed to hear. She lowered her hand from the doorknob. She was relieved that she hadn't rushed out and made a fool of herself. She was sure that Walt would not have appreciated that.
Samantha checked the time on her phone. It was well after midnight. She wondered just how long they were going to wait for Abe to show up. She yawned and leaned her head against the back of the closet. She needed to be able to stay awake, so her thoughts returned to the first chapter of her novel. As she considered it, she decided the whole thing was garbage, tossed out the idea, and started all over again.
***
“What is he doing?” Jo whispered to Eddy. Eddy had expected Abe to open the bedroom window and climb in. Instead he sat back down in his wheelchair.
“He was checking to see that Walt was inside. He wanted to make sure that he was asleep. He's not going in that way.” Eddy narrowed his eyes as Abe began to roll along the back of the house.
The living room window was fully accessible with no brush or bushes to get in his way. He rolled right up to it. Eddy reached out and held Jo's elbow. It was partially to restrain her, and partially to comfort her. Watching a murderer break into their friend's home was not exactly the best feeling in the world.
As Abe got to his feet in the seat of the wheelchair again it was clear that this time he was going to make his entrance. He slowly raised the window. Eddy had to bite into his bottom lip to stop himself from bolting after him. He knew that Abe had to get inside. They had to trap him, or all of this would prove nothing. Jo looked over at him anxiously. Eddy held up his free hand to warn her not to move just yet. Eddy's stomach twisted with repulsion as he watched Abe's lithe frame disappear through the living room window. Abe was now inside Walt's villa. His empty wheelchair was waiting for his return.
“Now?” Jo pleaded.
“Not just yet.” Eddy looked into her eyes. “Trust me.”
Jo scowled at him. She didn't feel the need to trust him, when he obviously didn't offer her the same. Still, she waited as he requested. Her heart was pounding. She wondered if Walt and Samantha were aware that Abe was inside.
***
Walt thought he heard something, but he told himself it was nothing. He had to, or he might scream. Samantha was in the closet, she would witness everything if he were to freak out. He had often been told by women that he was not manly enough. He had taken that to heart. He knew that his cleanliness and obsession with detail was hard enough to deal with. Samantha was his friend, but even she would likely laugh at him if he panicked and ran for the door.
So, he remained still and pretended that he had not heard what he thought was the living room window opening. He could only hope that Eddy had seen the figure in the window. Eddy had promised he would keep an eye on the situation and intervene when the time was right. But what if he had fallen asleep? What if he had given up and already gone home? What if he was distracted by Jo? Walt squeezed his eyes shut. Just be calm, he pleaded with himself.
Samantha heard rummaging in the living room. It was quiet, but distinct enough that she knew what it was. She heard papers sliding against papers, and drawers slowly opening and closing. There was no question in her mind that someone was searching the living room. Abe had come after all. She stood up to prepare herself to protect Walt if she needed to. She pulled out her phone and sent a quick text to Eddy.
Abe is in the house.
She knew that Eddy wouldn't text back. They had agreed it wasn't worth the risk unless it was an emergency. As Samantha peered through the slats in the closet door she waited for Abe to show his face. Would he come into the bedroom? Would Eddy confront him in the living room? She wasn't sure what would happen next. As she thought about this it occurred to her that everyone who was gathered at the memorial had overheard what Eddy had said. If the killer wasn't Abe, it might be someone else entirely in the living room. In that case she really had no idea what to expect. The rummaging continued. Samantha noticed that Walt had shifted slightly in the bed. She still couldn't tell if he was awake or not. She was tempted to try to whisper to him, but she was afraid it would draw attention to the bedroom.
After what seemed like hours, but was likely only a minute or two, Samantha heard footsteps in the hallway leading towards the bedroom. Her heart lurched. She wondered if he would head straight for the closet. It really was the only place to hide in the bedroom, so it would be the first place a criminal would check to make sure no one else was in the house. If he did, she might be spotted before anyone had the chance to stop him. Would he be armed? Would he be angry enough to harm Walt or her?
Chapter Eighteen
Samantha held her breath as she saw a flicker of light across the carpet. Through the slats of the closet door she saw a figure walking gingerly through the bedroom. She knew what happened next in the plan, but her heart was still pounding. Suddenly, the light in the bedroom turned on and flooded the room. The figure froze. Before he could react, Walt jumped up from the bed. He tossed his blanket over the head of the figure and tackled him at the same time. Both went crashing to the floor. Samantha opened the door to the closet and headed straight to the window. She opened it, and Eddy climbed in. Walt was still struggling with whoever was under the blanket on the floor. Eddy charged over to them and tore off the blanket.
Abe lay on the floor with his eyes wide open. He froze at the sight of everyone staring down at him.
“Abe, it must be a miracle.” Eddy glowered down at him. “Or you're a murderous con artist.”
Abe jumped to his feet and lunged for the door. Eddy tackled him before he could reach it. Abe thrashed and tried to wriggle his way out from under Eddy. Eddy kept him pinned down with the full force of his weight and his training.
“Get off me!” Abe exclaimed. “Are you people crazy?”
“We're the crazy ones?” Samantha laughed. “We're not the ones who have been faking the need for a wheelchair for many years. We're not the ones who broke into a neighbor's house, and we are certainly not the ones who murdered Joel Westons.”
“You don't know what you're talking about!” Abe growled and bucked upward in an attempt to shake Eddy off his back. Eddy easily kept him under control.
“We have everything recorded, Abe!” Eddy pointed to the camera in the corner of Walt's room. “Try explaining to the police that you just happened to be in Walt’s house, without your wheelchair. What were you looking for?” Eddy slowly eased to his feet. He remained close enough to grab Abe again if he needed to. “The ledger?”
Abe stood up slowly. He eyed Eddy who had one hand tightly gripping his arm. “Why do you think?” he asked sarcastically. “Of course the ledger. I wasn't going to let anyone find out the truth.”
“Is that why you killed Joel?” Samantha asked quietly. “Because you were afraid he was going to expose you?”
“Afraid? No! I knew he was going to expose me. He set up cameras everywhere to try to catch me.
He thought because I didn't seem to be depressed about my condition that I couldn't possibly not be able to walk. He accused me more than once, but he never had any proof. I was always so careful.”
“So, how did he catch you?” Walt asked. His eyes narrowed with genuine interest. Abe had them all fooled for so long, he wanted to know how it was that Joel had figured out something that no one else had. How had Abe slipped up? Had Joel found out with his own set up?
“I made one mistake.” Abe frowned. “When I started all of this I promised myself that no matter what I did I would never get out of the chair. As long as I didn't get out of the chair, no one could catch me. I even moved myself from the chair to the toilet and into the shower using all of the assistance products I had purchased.”
“So then how?” Samantha pressed.
Abe lowered his gaze to his hands. “You'd probably have to ask Anna about that.”
“What? What could Anna possibly have to do with any of this?” Eddy asked. “Don't you try to spin another one of your cons, Abe!” He was already on the edge of fury and Abe's excuses were pushing him even closer.
Abe sighed. He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again. “The thing is, Joel never really took care of Anna. You know, he made sure that she had everything that she needed financially, but as far as emotionally, and intimately, he was never there for her. I always thought she was a looker. So, when Joel offered me the opportunity to invest in a new business, I decided to go for it. I had a little money to spare, and I always wanted more. Plus, it would give me the chance to get to know Anna a little better.”
“Then when the business tanked?” Walt pressed. He had seen people do desperate things over the loss of money, but nothing so terrible.
“I figured out what Joel was up to. I mean, a con artist always knows another con artist. I wanted my money back. I decided to go to Anna and tell her what a crook she was married to. Well, Anna and I got to talking. We ended up spending more and more time together. Joel refused to give me back my money. I hated the fact that Anna was married to such a jerk.”
“You two fell in love?” Samantha asked incredulously. “Is it even possible for a man like you to love someone?”
“Hey, I'm still a person.” Abe glared at her. “Just because my career choice doesn't suit you, that doesn't make me any less of a person. I'm human. I have feelings. She acted like I was her one true love.” He rolled his eyes and shook his head. “I may be a talented con artist, but I'm still capable of being an idiot.”
“Maybe, but I just wouldn't expect someone like you to have such strong emotions about anyone or anything.” Samantha frowned and looked towards Eddy. “Maybe we should call in the police.”
“Do what you want. It doesn't matter now.” Abe hung his head with clear shame and embarrassment. “I did fall in love. I didn't think I was capable of it, but Anna was so kind. She always helped me with anything I needed. She was always concerned about my medications. She stood up for me if anyone gave me a hard time.” His eyes narrowed sharply. “I was such a fool!”
“What did you do, Abe?” Eddy asked, his voice edged with frustration. He wanted the truth.
Abe bit into his bottom lip as if he wanted to hold the confession inside. But there was a sadness in his eyes that made it clear he just wanted to finally get it out. He wanted to be free of the burden that he was carrying.
“Anna and I were getting closer and closer. It was such an intimate romance. I couldn't imagine my life without her. I wanted her to leave Joel and marry me. But I didn't think she would, because even though she was so kind, what woman would really want to commit to spending the rest of her life taking care of someone in a wheelchair?” He shrugged. “So, I made the stupidest mistake I ever could have. I told her the truth, about everything.”
“You did?” Walt asked with surprise. “That was a huge risk to take.” Eddy and Samantha looked at Abe with surprise as well.
Jo stepped in through the bedroom door. “Everyone okay in here?” she asked.
“We're fine.” Samantha nodded.
“I know it was stupid.” Abe shook his head. “At first she claimed that she didn't believe me. So, I proved it to her. I stood up, and I hugged her.” He closed his eyes at the memory. “It felt so good to finally hold her.”
Eddy frowned with some sympathy in his expression. “What did she do when you proved it to her?”
“What did she do?” Abe raised his voice. “She took a video is what she did! She had been playing me the whole time. As soon as Joel found out that I knew about his shady scams, that I knew what he was doing with the money that he was supposed to be investing, he made her try to gain my trust. I was furious. She told me there was nothing she could do.”
“That's when you started paying Joel to keep your secret?” Walt asked.
“Yes.” Abe scowled.
“But that wasn't enough was it? You were always worried that Joel would come out with the truth?” Eddy tightened his grasp on Abe's arm.
“It wasn't even that,” Abe admitted quietly. “It might make more sense if it was.”
“Then what was it?” Samantha asked. “Why did you have to kill him? He might have been a con artist, too, but he was still a person, Abe. You murdered him! All because of money?”
“No!” Abe had tears in his eyes as he looked at Samantha. “It wasn't because of the money. I would have happily paid him for the rest of my life. He had pulled the wool over my eyes, he won, there is honor among con artists.”
“Then why did you kill him?” Walt asked with confusion.
“It was because of her,” Abe whispered. “She was everything to me. She told me that he was the reason we couldn't be together, that he had forced her to get the video of me standing up. She told me that she was afraid of him, and that she couldn't leave him because she wasn't sure what he would do. She said that she wished he was gone. She had me believing that she loved me and would be with me, even if I had nothing. So, it just felt like Joel was standing between me and the love of my life.”
“So, you killed him to protect Anna?” Samantha said with a hint of sadness in her voice. It was no excuse to kill a man, but it made a little more sense to her than murdering over money.
“I thought I did,” Abe muttered and looked away shamefully. “I thought it would be worth it. I kept losing my courage, but when I saw the candlesticks through the window I knew what I had to do, I just went for it. I thought the world would be a better place without him anyway.”
“And?” Eddy stared at him.
“And, she never loved me at all. As soon as Joel was dead she wanted nothing to do with me. She threatened to expose my secret and the video if I told anyone the truth. She has been playing the act of a grieving widow ever since. Yes, I was the one who killed Joel, it was my hands, but Anna, she also wanted him dead.” He drew his lips into a thin, flat line.
“Wow.” Samantha shook her head. “You must have really loved her.”
“Oh, please don't tell me that you're buying this, Sam?” Walt asked sternly.
“What do you mean?” Samantha frowned and looked between Abe and Walt.
“I mean this man is a professional con artist. We're supposed to believe he was in love? It sounds to me like he's just trying to take Anna down with him. There's no proof that she had anything to do with this.” Walt shook his head. “I don't believe a single word that comes out of your mouth, Abe. Eddy, let's get the police.”
Eddy nodded and pulled out his cell phone. He dialed one of his contacts at the department and requested that a patrol car come out.
“That's my cue to leave.” Jo slipped past her friends towards the door. “Let me know what happens in the morning!”
“It is the morning.” Walt smiled briefly at her as she walked past him.
“You know what I mean, Walt,” Jo said with a hint of frustration.
“Don't you want to give a statement to the police?” Eddy asked.
“No thanks!” Jo waved
her hand in the air without looking back. She made her way out through the front door of the villa. Abe was silent but Eddy knew better than to get lulled into a sense of comfort. Abe was smart enough and desperate enough to attempt an escape. Samantha was keeping an eye on him, too, but for a different reason. She was genuinely curious about his story. She prided herself on being someone who knew how to read people. The stricken expression on Abe's face made her think he might just be telling the truth. She moved slightly closer to him.
“Is Walt right, Abe? Did you really make all of that up about being in love?” She scrutinized his reaction.
Abe lifted his gaze to hers. His eyes were watering, perhaps with tears, or perhaps because of the rough way that Eddy had handled him.
“I did what I thought was right. I did what I thought I had to do,” Abe's voice trembled a little as he spoke. “No one will ever believe me. But Anna will know the truth. Just ask yourself, Samantha, who gets the money in the end? Who gets everything?” He looked into her eyes with a sense of defeat and wonder.
To Samantha it seemed that he was more shocked than anyone else that Anna had been able to pull off such a clever and ruthless ruse. Samantha continued to stare at him with restrained fascination. She knew that with no one else to inherit his money, all of Joel's fortune would go to Anna. She had been stuck in a loveless marriage. Could she really have been cunning enough to con a con man into killing her husband so that she could be rid of him, but still have all of his money?
