“I understand.” Skye patted the woman’s arm. “What happened next?”
“When I answered, Blair demanded that I meet her at the pool and bring her another ten thousand dollars or she was putting the pictures of me giving Banjo Bender money on Open Book. Then she hung up before I could say anything.” Oriana’s voice cracked. “So I drove over to the school, and she let me in that back door. She had a key to disable the alarm. I explained that I’d paid everything I could and my daughter had to have the rest.”
“But Blair didn’t care about that.” Skye sucked in a lungful of air. The teacher’s greed left her breathless.
“No. I should have known better. She wouldn’t let Ashley on the volleyball team even as a manager, so why would she be reasonable about blackmail?” Oriana glared. “Blair laughed at me and said all she cared about was living the good life. It wasn’t her concern if some kid couldn’t go to a special school. The money would be wasted on a girl like Ashley.”
“That must have made you really angry,” Skye murmured encouragingly.
“It did.” Oriana jerked up her chin. “I told her that I didn’t have the money with me and would have to get it from the bank the next day, but when I tried to leave, Blair lunged at me. I grabbed the Taser from my purse because I was scared she was going to hurt me.”
“You just happened to have a stun gun with you?” Wally asked.
“I used to close the Laundromat and collect the money from the machines all by myself,” Oriana explained. “I bought the Taser for protection and always carried it in my bag.”
“And when you zapped Blair, she fell into the water,” Skye guessed.
“Yes.” Oriana nodded. “But I didn’t mean to kill her.”
“Buzz. Wrong answer,” Wally pounced. “If you didn’t mean to kill her, why did you hold her head under the water?”
“But, but . . .” Oriana stammered.
“The forensics can prove your ring caused the wounds in Blair’s scalp.” Wally raised a brow. “If, as you claim, you Tasered her in self-defense, you would have never touched her head.”
“You’re confusing me,” Oriana whimpered.
“Let’s talk about something else for a minute,” Skye said. “Why did you turn off the electricity?”
“I read in some mystery novel that confusing the temperature would make it hard to determine time of death,” Oriana blurted out, then added, “I knew you all wouldn’t believe that I was just protecting myself, so I wanted to make it as hard as possible for the police to figure things out.”
“And that was your second mistake,” Wally said. “You left your fingerprints on the electrical panel in the boiler room. You might be able to convince a jury that your prints in the pool area were present because you’d been swimming there with your daughter, but nobody is allowed in the boiler room except the custodian.”
“Mrs. Northrup.” Skye made her voice soothing and her expression understanding. “If you tell us what happened and show remorse, I’m sure the prosecutor will take the death penalty off the table.”
Oriana collapsed against the back of the chair. It was clear that she had run out of ideas on how to deny her guilt and realized that she was running out of options. “The death penalty? Oh, my God . . . What will happen to Ashley?”
“Is there anyone I can call for you?” Skye asked gently. “Family or a friend?”
“My sister lives in Chicago.” Oriana buried her face in her hands. “She’ll take care of Ashley.” Oriana sobbed. “The insurance company will want their money back, won’t they?”
“I’m afraid so.” Skye felt sorry for the woman, who had been so desperate to secure the best education for her daughter.
“Then Ashley will end up in the Chicago Public School system.” Oriana wiped her cheeks with the backs of her hands. “And I did it all for nothing.”
Skye and Wally exchanged a look. Poor Ashley was the one who would suffer the most. Having to move to a new school and losing her mother to the prison system. It was sad. The girl had been doing well in the program Skye had designed for her. She could only hope that wherever she ended up being enrolled could manage a similar setup.
Wally wrapped up the questioning and had Oriana write out her confession. Three hours later, her case had been turned over to the city attorney, Ashley’s aunt had arrived, the search warrants had been executed, the evidence secured, and Banjo Bender had leaped at the deal the lawyer had offered him to testify against Oriana.
It was nearly ten o’clock when Skye and Wally finally were able to leave the PD and head home—long past the time anyone would still be at May’s dinner party. They’d have to make their big announcement another time.
As they walked up the steps of their house, Skye said, “Even though we’ve seen it before, I’m surprised Oriana confessed as fast as she did.”
“She’s obviously not a hardened criminal, and regular people find it difficult to maintain a lie.”
“That’s true.” Skye nodded. “At school, the first-time wrongdoers usually cave in quickly. It’s the habitual offenders who can look you right in the eye, and even if you have a video of their transgressions, deny everything.”
“And don’t forget”—Wally’s smile was grim—“we had DNA, fingerprints, photos, and motive. With all that against her, she really had no choice.”
“We all have a choice.” Skye blew out a long breath. “Oriana Northrup made the wrong one when she put this entire sequence of events in motion and decided her need for money was reason enough to break the law.”
“And she’s going to pay the price.” Wally kissed Skye’s temple. “Which is why you and I do what we do.”
“Too bad she’s not the only one affected by her actions.” Skye rested her hand on her stomach. “It’s always the innocents who suffer the most.”
EPILOGUE
E2EG—Ear-to-Ear Grin
The next day, Skye gazed at the curious faces gathered around her dining room table and said, “Sorry Wally and I couldn’t make it to dinner last night.”
She and Wally had decided to ask their family and friends for lunch. Grandma Denison, Loretta, and the baby were free most of the time, May’s shift at the PD didn’t start until four, and with spring break for Skye and Trixie, the wet fields for Owen and Jed, Vince’s salon closed on Mondays, and Wally and Charlie being their own bosses, everyone was available. It had been tough dodging the question as to why they were having a party on a weekday afternoon, and the day after the other parties, but Skye had promised all would be revealed after dessert.
Skye’s parents, along with her grandmother, had been the first to show up, but before May could begin her interrogation, everyone else streamed through the front door. While the adults fussed over April, Skye put out the food and Wally filled drink orders.
Once they were seated, May asked, “So tell us all about catching the murderer.”
Skye knew there was no avoiding the matter, so she passed the platter of roast beef and summarized how they had solved the crime.
Uncle Charlie tilted his seat back, unconcerned when the Victorian mahogany balloon-back chair groaned under his weight, and said, “But if this Northrup woman hired Banjo Bender to torch the Clean and Bright, why did he set all the other fires? We’ve had three or four more since the Laundromat burned down.”
“That’s a good question.” Skye looked at Wally and asked, “I wasn’t in on his interrogation. Did he explain that?”
“Bender’s a pyromaniac,” Wally said, helping himself to a spoonful of mashed potatoes. He handed the bowl to Loretta and explained, “When Oriana caught him putting a match to a pile of trash in the woods behind her house and suggested she’d pay him to burn down the Laundromat, he realized he could make money from his hobby.”
Vince snickered. “What did he do, put an ad in the paper?”
“Not qui
te.” Wally took a sip of his iced tea. “He studied the local businesses. Noted which ones didn’t seem to be doing very well, then casually ‘ran into’ the owners and somehow managed to work the conversation over to insurance.”
“And since he’s pretty well-known in these parts as a firebug, I suspect the rest was pretty easy,” Grandma Denison commented.
“Exactly.” Wally nodded. “Everyone knew he liked to set fires, but with the photos we can finally prove it.” Wally narrowed his eyes. “We’ll be investigating the other mysterious fires. I’m expecting that we’ll be making several more arrests before this whole matter is resolved.”
“Didn’t Bender approach anyone who turned him down?” Trixie asked. “And if so, why didn’t they report him to the police?”
“I’m sure there were people who refused his offer,” Wally answered slowly. “But from what he’s told us, he phrased it in such a way that he never really came out and said that they could pay him to burn their businesses.”
“And as to why no one reported him to the cops,” Charlie added, his voice cynical, “I’m betting that the folks he approached weren’t the most upright citizens. People like that have a policy of not getting involved with the authorities.”
“No doubt.” Wally tipped his head in Charlie’s direction, acknowledging his agreement with the older man. “No doubt.”
“It’s hard to feel sorry for Blair,” Owen said, putting a biscuit on his plate and ladling gravy over it. “Blackmailers feed on people’s desperation. Everyone is entitled to their privacy.”
“Some people got more to hide than others,” Jed mumbled around a bite of green bean casserole.
“Those two should have shut up and asked for a lawyer,” Loretta snapped.
“There’s a lot of physical evidence,” Skye pointed out.
“I could have gotten them both off.” Loretta crossed her arms. “And a woman like Oriana doesn’t deserve to spend years and years in prison. She only did it for her daughter to have a better life.” Loretta glanced at her own baby daughter and added, “She may have broken the law, but if that teacher hadn’t blackmailed her, no one but the insurance company would have gotten hurt.”
“Which is why we’re glad you’re on maternity leave,” Wally said with a wry grin.
“You need to start using your powers for good instead of evil,” Skye teased.
Loretta snorted and said, “I think I’ll look into Oriana’s case while I’m off.” She returned her attention to her plate, muttering, “I bet I can get her a better deal than her court-appointed attorney.”
“Did Blair blackmail other people, too?” Vince asked.
“Judging from the pictures we found on her phone and what we know about what she put up on Open Book, I’d say it’s highly likely she’s been indulging in some form of extortion for quite some time,” Wally said. “I wonder if she would have continued once she turned thirty and received her inheritance.”
“I somehow doubt she’d have stopped,” Skye said. “This might have been the first time she asked for money, but I bet she’s asked for little favors or gifts. She was the type to revel in the power.” Skye took a bite of the beef and was relieved when it melted in her mouth. It would have been embarrassing to serve tough meat to her mother.
“I think you’re onto something.” Trixie snapped her fingers. “I remember noticing that Blair had a Coach purse that looked an awful lot like the one our new math teacher had just bought. And I thought it was odd that the social studies teacher volunteered to take Blair’s detention duty for her.”
“I suppose asking them is useless.” Wally took a bite of his salad. “They sure wouldn’t want to admit to whatever secret she was using to blackmailing them.”
“With Banjo’s and Oriana’s confessions, there really is no need to build a case, so why embarrass them?” Skye glanced at her husband. “What will happen to all the photos on her cell?”
“Once the case is settled, we’ll return her phone to her estate, but I think those snapshots might be accidentally deleted before it gets mailed back to them.” Wally used his napkin and then added, “Reid confirmed that Bernadette is Blair’s heir. The attorney was a part of the Skype call arranging Blair’s funeral because she left specific instructions that she did not want to be buried in California in the family plot.”
“Wow.” May shook her head. “I guess some family fights follow you to the grave.”
“I just feel bad for Ashley Northrup.” Skye sighed. “She’s a sweet girl.”
“She’s done really well in the GIVE group,” Trixie piped up. “She’s made some friends and seems really comfortable and happy there.”
“Her accommodations seem to be working in the classrooms, too.” Skye pursed her lips, frustrated that Ashley would suffer from her mother’s actions.
“Then you’ll be happy to hear that Oriana’s sister has decided to relocate to Scumble River and allow Ashley to finish school here. She’s a medical transcriptionist and can work from anywhere,” Wally announced. “She came by the station this morning to let us know she would be moving into the Northrup house later in the week.”
“Yay!” Skye and Trixie both clapped their hands together.
While they finished their meal, the conversation turned to the weather and spring planting. When everyone had pushed their plates aside, Skye rose from her chair and said, “I’ll go get dessert.”
“I’ll help.” Wally leaped up from his chair, putting one hand on May’s shoulder and the other on Trixie’s to keep them in their seats. “You all relax.”
After clearing the table and bringing out the dessert plates, Wally and Skye went into the kitchen. While he got his father on his cell phone and put him on speaker, Skye carried the cake to the dining room.
As Skye set it on the table, May read the icing message out loud. “What will Baby Boyd be? A he or a she?”
It took a moment for the words to sink in; then May screamed and jumped to her feet. Her gaze immediately shot to Skye’s stomach and she said, “You’re pregnant?”
“Yes.” Wally put his arm around Skye. “We’re having a baby.”
After everyone had congratulated them, May cut to the chase and asked, “When?”
“The end of September.”
Charlie took a swig of beer, allowed a soft burp to escape his lips, then said, “Good thing you guys got married when you did.”
May hugged Skye and glared at Charlie. “She got pregnant on her honeymoon.” May looked at her daughter. “Right?”
“Right.” Skye winked at Wally and hugged her mom back.
“Did you hear all that, Dad?” Wally spoke into his cell phone.
“I did.” Carson Boyd’s voice was thick. “Congratulations, son. I couldn’t be happier for you both. I’ll clear my schedule and plan to spend the last week in September and the first week of October in Scumble River.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Wally’s expression was stunned. “Can you really spare that much time from the business?”
“For my first grandchild?” Carson chuckled. “Hell, I may move company headquarters to Chicago or retire and let your cousin take over.”
* * *
“The announcement went well,” Wally said later that evening from his recliner.
“Yes, it did.” Skye put a piece of cake on the table in front of him. “Though I was worried for a bit when Mom and your father got into a shouting match about family names.”
“I had no idea my dad would be this excited.” Wally patted his knee, silently inviting her to sit down. “He’s already talking about where the baby should go to college.”
“I think you may have gotten a taste of what I go through with my family.” Skye snuggled on his lap.
Wally chuckled and said, “I wonder how Bingo will react to the baby.” He reached down and stroked the feline in question, who wa
s sitting by the chair, staring at them.
“He’ll have to adjust.” Skye took a deep breath. “We’re all going to have to get used to some big changes in our lives.”
“Good ones.” Wally hugged her.
“Definitely.” Skye brushed a tear away. “It’s just a lot to take in. And now that we’ve shared the news, it somehow seems more real than before.”
“Don’t worry.” Wally took her chin in his hand. “I promise you that we can handle whatever having a family throws at us.”
“I know.” She looked into his warm brown eyes. “I can deal with anything as long as you’re by my side.”
“And it would take wild horses to drag me away.” Wally pressed his lips gently to hers. “So I think we’re safe.”
As Skye deepened the kiss, a flicker of unease shot up her spine. She sure hoped her new husband hadn’t just jinxed them.
Read on for a sneak peek of the next book in Denise Swanson’s Devereaux’s Dime Store Mystery Series,
Between a Book and a Hard Place
Available from Obsidian in March 2016 wherever print and e-books are sold.
The Shadow Bend, Missouri, city council meeting didn’t typically draw much of a crowd. Generally, fewer than a dozen of the community’s four thousand twenty-eight citizens showed up, but tonight the residents had turned out in droves.
I wasn’t sure what had sparked the most interest—the application to turn a historic hotel on the village square into a rooming house or the UFO sightings east of town. But I was willing to bet the deed to my shop, Devereaux’s Dime Store and Gift Baskets, that the majority of the folks hadn’t come to discuss the same agenda item I was there to support.
Actually, support was too strong a word. I was present only because Boone St. Onge, one of my best friends, had nagged me into attending. Normally, I would have refused to squander one of the last perfect summer evenings listening to Mayor Geoffrey Eggers drone on and on about rooming houses bringing down the tone and ambience of Shadow Bend, but Boone had been hard to refuse.
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