by CeeCee James
With a moan, Lucy followed Elise into the kitchen.
“Tell me what you learned in school today.” Elise poured her a glass of milk. She pushed over the cookie jar.
Lucy grabbed a chocolate chip cookie with her nose wrinkled. “That type of question ruins even a cookie.”
Elise lifted an eyebrow. “Just give me the basics, Missy. How’s your headache, by the way?”
“Head’s fine, but it wasn’t helped by the surprise test in marketing. By the way, Mr. Hamilton’s name came up in class, today.”
“Really?” Elise was surprised. “What did they say?” Max curled up against her leg with a little meow, not wanting to be forgotten.
“They were talking about business mottos, and how to make a good one. And how a good motto can outlive you. And my teacher asked if we’d heard about Mr. Hamilton. Like hardly any of the kids had. Then she asked if they knew the motto at the Hamilton Securities bank. It’s a glacier on the door, with the words- Since nearly from the ice ages, we keep you solid. Almost half the class raised their hands.”
That motto triggered something in Elise’s memory. “Really! And how did they know that?”
The teen rolled her eyes. “Dude! It’s right on the bank door every time you go in.”
“Oh! That’s right. Although, to be fair, it’s not where I usually bank.” Elise realized she read that motto when she dropped the StraightenUp money off and was impressed that Lucy remembered the motto.
Lucy shrugged and dipped her cookie in the milk.
“Now hurry up. We have a driving lesson to take before it gets dark.”
Ignoring Lucy’s groans, Elise scooped up Max and took him into the living room. On the way, she grabbed her phone from her purse.
Lavina weighed on her mind.
She settled into her window seat and waited for Max to decide if he was going to lie down. He did so by pinning one of her legs and making it impossible to get the other one in a comfortable position.
“Crazy cat,” she whispered, scratching his ears.
He closed his eyes and broke into a deep purr. She couldn’t help but smile at his contentment.
Maybe Lavina needs a pet?
She zipped a text off to her best friend. —Sorry for running out on you again. I’ll make it up to you.
Lavina typed back—Tomorrow after work?
Tomorrow Elise was supposed to go with Sue to her family’s house. Elise sent—I have plans, but after dinner maybe!
After that, she started an internet search on Grandma Babe’s situation. Within a few minutes, she was discouraged. As unethical as the loan was, Elise couldn’t find anything that could legally help.
“What’s the matter?” Lucy said as she came in the living room. She was French-braiding her hair as she walked, a trick Elise could barely master in front of the mirror.
“Oh, I just need to figure out how to get a hundred thousand dollars in a few weeks. No big deal.”
“Did you try setting up a Go-Fund-Me?” the teen asked, twisting a bit to examine the braid’s tip. She fished a rubber band from her pocket and tied off the end.
A Go-Fund-Me! Of course! “Do you think I could get enough people’s attention to it?”
“What’s it for?” Lucy asked.
Quickly, Elise explained Grandma Babe’s situation.
“Our student government would totally support that! We can print flyers, even.”
“Seriously!” Elise was excited. Lucy came over and together they set up the charity fund.
“That’s it then, I’m done for the day,” Lucy said, when Elise closed the browser.
“Not so fast. Go get your permit. It’s time to drive the wild thing.”
Lucy groaned. “Fine. Just take me someplace where no one I know will see me.”
Elise mock-glared at the girl. “You be nice to my car. She’s a classic.”
“You don’t have to tell me,” Lucy muttered on her way to her room. “A classic piece of…”
“Lucy!”
“Beauty! I was going to say beauty!” Lucy yelled, before slamming her door.
Ten minutes later, they were firmly seat belted into the front seats of the Geo. And by ‘firmly’ Elise meant her knuckles were white as she gripped the handle above the door.
Lucy had narrowly missed hitting the mailbox as she’d pulled out onto the street. She’d swerved hard, nearly side-swiping a parked car. She’d slammed on her brakes and stared at Elise.
“What do I do, now?” she whispered.
“So that was called over correcting.” Elise said. “Now we’re just going to back up, nice and gentle.” She turned in her seat to peer out the back window.
“Nice and gentle,” Lucy echoed.
Elise felt the car shift as Lucy put it into reverse. She watched carefully out the rear window while the teen stepped on the gas.
“Wrong way!” Elise yelled, as the car lurched forward. Lucy slammed on the brakes.
The seatbelt jerked to lock again, making Elise grimace.
“Sorry! I’m no good at this!” Lucy wailed.
For a second, Elise wanted to agree. After all, they were just trying to get down a straight road. But the road was narrow, with cars parked on both sides.
Elise eased a finger under the seatbelt trying to loosen it. “Don’t worry. One day we’re going to look back at this and laugh.” She tried to bolster her shaky tone with a little laugh.
“One… day,” Lucy agreed. She chewed on her bottom lip.
Elise tried again. “Keep your eyes up ahead a little bit. Don’t be looking right at the end of your hood. You’ve got this.”
Finally, Lucy had the car in the right direction. They drove silently for a few minutes, and then Elise had her turn down a country road with low traffic. After ten minutes, Elise could see the teen relaxing.
“Lucy, you’re doing great. You feeling up to me asking you a question?”
The girl nodded.
“What do you think about meeting your mom? You’ve been having good conversations on the phone. You know, she’s been asking.”
Lucy bit her the inside of her cheek. Elise waited, letting the girl think.
It was when she started to sniffle that Elise knew something was wrong.
“Okay, pull over there.” Elise hurriedly directed to the side of the road. The car bumped in the grass. “What’s the matter, hun?”
The girl shook her head, her lips pressed together. Tears started to fall.
“What’s going on?”
“Is it because you want to get rid of me?”
The words were like a knife in Elise’s heart. “No, no, nothing like that. You’re welcome to live with us until you go to college. And you will be going to college, because life has big plans for you!”
“I thought… because you and Brad…”
“No, you are my family. But your mom is your family, too. And the counselor thinks she is a safe person for you now. There might be things you guys can work on, so you both get some healing. But you don’t have to. Only when you feel the time is right. Which is why I’m asking.”
“Will you go with me?” Lucy’s voice was tiny and vulnerable.
“Of course. But you are going to kick butt and take names. You’re going to be okay.”
Lucy smiled at that. “All right, I’ll let Mom’s counselor set up a time. But, I’m warning you. I still might be a nervous wreck.”
“That’s okay. You can feel anxious, just don’t camp out there. Now you ready to get back on the road, again?”
Lucy nodded. She put the car back in drive and then gave it too much gas, and the back tires of the Geo squealed.
“Wow! I had no idea this baby could do that!” Elise exclaimed. “Careful there, Mario Andretti.”
“Sorry!” Lucy yelled. She looked a bit more relaxed behind the wheel though, and they sped away, making the leaves flutter behind them.
Chapter 9
Elise puzzled all the next day over Michael. Why had
Grandma Babe’s grandson been at the ice rink? She’d shared her run-in with Michael with Brad, and he’d passed it on to the lead investigator. For a moment there was a flurry of excitement. It seemed like it was a solid lead.
Until later, when Brad shared that Michael had been happy to cooperate with the police. Apparently, it was a coincidence he was there the afternoon of the murder. Being new in town and searching for a job, it was one of the places where he’d stopped to pick up a job application.
Brad said they weren’t ruling him out, but were starting to focus on the new wife. And there was a new suspect they’d just uncovered, one that he wasn’t at liberty to discuss, yet.
“You’re going with Sue tonight, right? Let me know what you make of the Hamilton family,” he’d said. “Detective Miller is very interested in your opinions.”
“Really! He wants my opinion?”
He winked. “Like we really were going to get a choice. I told him we had a Columbo on our hands with you.”
At the clinic, Sue seemed at an unusually high energy all day. After work, she followed Elise home, where Elise dropped off her car and then hopped into Sue’s. Her car was a newer rattle trap version of Elise’s two-door white Geo. Elise snorted at the “sport edition” emblazoned on the back.
“Here we go around the mulberry bush!” Sue’s singing voice was high and almost manic.
Elise glanced sharply at her.
“Sorry, sorry. I think seeing my mom makes me a little crazy.” Sue flushed, looking more than a little abashed.
“It’s going to be okay. I’ll be there.”
“If she says anything…odd. Just go with it. She can be so snippy that it’s best not to engage,” Sue warned.
Well, this sounds like the epitome of fun.
It was cold tonight, and Elise was surprised to see the headlights picking up snowflakes. Wet splats hit the windshield.
“It’s snowing!” Elise exclaimed.
“I hope it doesn’t stick.” Sue turned on her wipers.
Elise didn’t think it would. She loved driving at night watching the snow fall.
The road took them out of Angel Lake and up into Fairview. This city was known for its wealthy residents. Elise remembered hearing that Mr. Hamilton lived in Ravondale Heights and wondered if she’d finally get a chance to see the exclusive neighborhood.
Excitement prickled as Sue turned down the fabled street. A guard sat at the entrance, nodding when Sue showed him her ID. The gate slowly opened, and Elise felt like she was about to enter the land of OZ.
She was not disappointed. These people had money, but nothing could have prepared her for the ostentatious Christmas displays. Replications of old globe street lamps lined the street, festooned with clear fairy lights. What must have equaled miles of lights, drew sparkling lines around every curve of the mansions, from the eaves to the columns. Elise couldn’t even imagine their power bill.
Still, there was nothing garish about the displays. No flashing lights, no inflatables in the front yard, or fake candy canes. Just twinkling lights that almost seemed artistic in the way they highlighted the houses' towers, portcullis, and grand entrances.
“It’s magical,” Elise breathed.
“It’s one of my favorite things to see,” Sue agreed.
They pulled down a driveway of a house even larger than the rest.
“Your uncle’s?” Elise asked.
“He lives…used to live up the road. This was my grandfather’s home before he passed. Now it’s my mom and aunt’s.”
Elise scanned the front of the mansion. What an opposite lifestyle Sue must have led before she entered the Peace Corps. She wanted to hear more of that story, one day. “Your uncle didn’t get a share of the property?”
“Both he and his brother got a portion of the partnership at the bank. He already had enough money to buy a house just up the street.”
She parked the car next to a Lincoln and a Rolls Royce.
“You ready?” Elise asked. She was more than ready to clap eyes on just what roots Mr. Hamilton came from.
Sue nodded, and they exited the car. This house wasn’t covered in white lights, like so many others. Instead huge vases, the size of a small car, held an overflowing amount of white flowers. Tiny red flowers were interspersed among them. The scent was heavenly as they walked up the steps.
At the front door, Sue seemed to hang back, bringing Elise to an awkward stop behind her. She waited to see what her friend would do.
Finally, Sue squared her shoulders and took a deep breath. Without another delay, she wrenched opened the door and walked in.
Elise’s imagination had been on overdrive for this moment, picturing how it would go. She knew the family terrified Sue, so images of a real life Cruella, or perhaps Meryl Streep from Devil Wears Prada doppelgänger were what she was expecting.
But she wasn’t prepared for the quiet of the room. Although every seat was filled, the people sat as though they were a part of a museum exhibit. Five heads—three men and two women—swiveled as the two women entered, every eye trained in their direction.
No one greeted them
Elise suppressed a shiver as she shut the door. No wonder Sue had been nervous.
A clicking broke the quiet as a miniature poodle trotted toward them. Its nails clacked against the wood floor. The noise was such a relief that it made Elise suddenly conscious of the fact that she was still hanging on to the door knob. She released it and clasped her hands behind her back.
“Hello, Mother,” Sue said.
Elise felt her eyebrows flicker at the distinct change in Sue’s voice. It had always been soft, but now there was a pleading quality in it that Elise had never heard before. Her heart felt torn and her gaze dropped to the floor.
“Susan,” one of the women answered, her voice tightly caught between distaste and obligation. She wore a pale blue silk blouse and linen pants. “How lovely that you brought a friend.” Her tone indicated it was anything but lovely.
The dog began to sniff at Elise’s shoes. The animal’s pure-white fur had been groomed into puffs, with two pink bows at the ears. Its black nose flared as the dog caught an interesting scent, possibly of her cat, Max.
Elise squatted down and offered her hand for inspection. The dog gave it a polite sniff and then stared up into Elise’s eyes. He panted a doggy smile and Elise reached out to stroke the pup’s cheek.
“Cookie! Come here, girl.” Sue’s mother’s sharp command made Elise jerk. The dog reacted the same way and cowered by Elise’s feet. “Cookie!” the woman snapped her fingers.
The dog scurried back to its owner, the nails making more of a scrabbly sound rather than the confident clicks it had when first crossing the room. Cookie then disappeared under the ornate coffee table presumably to huddle by her owner’s feet.
Sue stood in the same spot she’d taken when she’d entered. Arms stiffly at her sides, her shoulders back. But Elise could see the edge of her skirt was trembling. This girl was struggling. Elise got to her feet and took a few steps closer, hoping her physical presence would help her friend.
“Well, now. Aren’t you going to at least introduce us? To your friend?” The mother’s voice took a fake playful quality. “I taught you better manners than that.”
Sue jerked as if hit by a live wire. “Of course. Mother, this is Elise Pepper. Elise, this is my mom, Ms. Christoff.”
The woman nodded, her brunette hair a stiff helmet of carefully placed waves.
“And this,” Sue waved her hand, “is my Aunt Delores, Mrs. Terrington.”
Dark haired like her sister, the tiny woman perched on the end of the couch as if the furniture’s back was fitted with spikes. Her ankles were neatly crossed. She gave Elise a nod with a slightly raised eyebrow.
There were more people to introduce, but before Sue could get to them, her mother interrupted. “Well.” Ms. Christoff’s sharp gaze moved from Elise to Sue. She stared at her daughter while Sue shifted uncomfortably. “This
day certainly has had its fill of uninvited guests. I suppose I should make some introductions myself.” She stared at a man seated at the other end of the room.
Chapter 10
The man was in his late forties, his dark hair styled conservatively. At Ms. Christoff’s glanced, he stood up. Elise immediately noticed he was very tall and wore a fitted, gray three-piece suit. He motioned to a young twenty-something man sitting next to him. As he did, his sleeve pulled up just a bit to give a peek of a tattoo. “Come on.”
The young man stood up. He wore a sports jacket and dark blue jeans. His hair was longish and almost black. It curled slightly where the tips met his collar. He was also tall, although not as tall as the man standing next to him.
Ms. Christoff glanced cooly at him. “Susan, this is your cousin, Parker.”
“My…cousin?” Sue’s hair swung gently as she turned to study the young man.
“Hello, Susan. It’s so nice to meet you,” he said, his voice shaded with a deep English accent.
“Err, hello.” Sue turned all shades of red as she looked back toward her mom. She said softly, “I didn’t realize I had a cousin, Parker.”
“He’s been estranged from the family,” Ms. Christoff reached for one of the consolation cards on the coffee table and fanned herself. She seemed a little uncertain as she finished her explanation. “He’s your uncle Roger’s son.”
Sue’s mouth dropped open. Her mother arched an eyebrow and cleared her throat.
“Let me explain,” the well-dressed man said. He glanced at Elise. “Henry Bingham, of Bingham Attorneys of Law.”
“He’s our family’s counsel. His family has always handled our business,” Ms. Christoff added.
“Approximately one year ago, I was contacted by a Barrister Edwards from East Sussex, and given a letter. He represented the estate of Katherine Stuart, this young man’s late mother. The letter held a copy of a photograph of a much younger, Roger Hamilton and an equally youthful woman. The letter introduced Master Parker, formally presenting him as Mr. Hamilton’s son.”
Sue’s head swiveled between the attorney and her mother.
