Sticks & Stones (A Hollis Morgan Mystery)

by R. Franklin James

  She heard the hesitation as the young woman tried to decide if this was a serious call. “My husband handles all the family business. I really can’t help you.”

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t tell you. The law firm I work for, Dodson, Dodson and Doyle in Oakland, represents the estate of a client who had a connection to the former occupant of your home. We’re just trying to locate him.”

  Hollis sensed the woman’s comfort level increase now that she had information she could verify.

  “If you leave your name and your firm’s office number, I’ll have my husband get back in touch with you.”

  Hollis gave her the information.

  “And your husband’s name is ….?”

  “Alvin. Alvin Gregory.”

  “Well, thank you, Mrs. Gregory. I look forward to hearing from your husband.”

  She could hear a sigh.

  “Oh, forget all that. Alvin’s got a big project at work and he’d only tell me to call you back anyway. I’ll leave the number of the property management firm for you this evening on your voicemail. I’ve got to find it first. You’ll have it when you get in tomorrow morning.”

  Static came on the line. Mrs. Gregory must have been walking around with the phone. “I can tell you this, though. The house was a mess when we moved here. We’ve been fixing it up ’cause we’d like to buy it someday. If it’s part of an estate, I can tell you we increased the value a ton. Alvin had an appraisal done before we moved in and—”

  “Mrs. Gregory, your house is not considered part of the estate. We think the prior owner may have an interest in our client’s estate, and we’re just trying to locate him.”

  “Oh, oh, okay. Well, we were told they put him in a home in Fairfield. He didn’t have any family here. He must have lived by himself. Like I said, this place was a mess. You could tell he didn’t have a woman in the house, or at least not for some time.”

  The next morning Hollis double-checked the lock on her front door, tapped the address of the retirement home into her car’s GPS, and headed for the freeway. With luck she would pull into Fairfield before noon. She left a message for George telling him of her field trip, but only when she was positive he wouldn’t answer in person.

  In fact, the ride was uneventful and really quite pretty. She felt her shoulders relax as the trees got more plentiful and the commercial centers more spread out. It wasn’t long before she pulled into the parking lot of the Eastbrook Hills Residence Park. She noted that it was not on a hill and not in a park. The unimpressive three-story building rose solidly from a flat parcel at the rear of what looked like a mid-size shopping center. Two palm trees stood tall on either side of the front walkway. They were the only palms in the area and stood defiantly among the native oaks and fir trees.

  Only three other cars were in the parking lot. She walked purposely up to the front entry. The lobby was clean, with a slight medicinal smell. Classical music played in the background. Sun beamed through large multi-paned windows. There was no one in the lobby area.

  She lightly tapped the gold Asian-style bell on the reception counter with a name plate that read, Miriam Coulter. A low murmur of conversation from an inner office suddenly stopped, and an older woman emerged. Her obviously dyed black hair settled like a helmet on her small head.

  Smiling broadly at Hollis, she said, “May I help you?”

  “Yes, thank you. My name is Hollis Morgan. I would like to visit with Eric Ferris. Is he available?”

  Her plastered smile didn’t break a crack. “So, is he expecting you?”

  “No, I was in the area.” Hollis gave her a wide-eyed look. “I hoped I could just drop in.” She deliberately hadn’t made an appointment. She wanted to catch him off guard.

  “Are you a relative?”

  “No, I’m a friend of an old friend.”

  Sort of.

  “I see.” She rolled her secretary’s chair over to a Rolodex on a side table and flipped the cards until she came to the one she wanted. Beaming Hollis another of her Stepford smiles, she asked, “Do you have a business card?”

  Hollis reached over the counter and handed her a card.

  Without looking down at it, the woman said, “I’ll have to see if Mr. Ferris is available to meet with you. Please have a seat.”

  She pointed Hollis to a row of stiff-backed oak chairs lining a short dividing wall.

  Hollis glanced at the stack of Senior Living and Retired Life magazines on a small round table, but before she could read about cruises for seniors, Miriam was back.

  “I’m sorry, but Mr. Ferris wasn’t expecting you and is unable to meet with you right now.” She did seem sincerely sorry. “However, he asks that if you are amenable, he can meet with you after lunch, say one-thirty?”

  Hollis was pleasantly surprised he was willing to meet with a stranger, but then she couldn’t imagine he would have many visitors.

  She stood and put her purse under her arm. “No problem. I’ll run a couple of errands and return then.”

  Fairfield appeared to be a quiet suburban community with its growth emphasis on retail. Hollis chose to have lunch in a simple looking café about five minutes from the retirement home.

  She checked her voicemails and then left her own message.

  “Mark, I’m ready to go ahead with the Martini deposition tomorrow. I’ll be there early and meet you in your offices. I’m not at work today so you won’t be able to reach me.” Hollis hit the send button. Hopefully Mark would get her message before he went into the meeting with Transformation.

  He returned her call within seconds.

  “Where are you?”

  Hollis thought about lying but she was trying to practice telling the truth. “I’m in Fairfield. I’m tracing down Margaret Koch’s ex-husband.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m just making sure there are no heirs.” She paused. “No, forget that, the truth is I just want to see what kind of ex she had. I want to put faces to the people in the letters.”

  She could hear Mark riffling through papers.

  “Not to knock your detective instincts, but I could really use your attention on Cathy’s case. I want to be ready to depose Ms. Martini, and I could use your help with some additional questions.”

  His tone irked her—not because of what he said, but because he was right.

  She added, “I’ll have a supplemental set of questions to you by five …. No, make that by four o’clock this afternoon.”

  Returning to Eastbrook Hills, Hollis found Miriam sitting primly at her desk, waiting for her to return.

  She smiled. “Hello again, Miss Morgan. Mr. Ferris will meet with you in the library. I can show you the way.”

  Hollis murmured her thanks and followed the woman down the carpeted hallway. Eastbrook also had a senior day center that looked much nicer than the one in San Lucian where she volunteered free legal assistance. Impressionist reproductions lined the walls leading to the doorway of the library, which appeared to be well stocked with books. A circular walnut table occupied the center of the room, while overstuffed chairs were situated in small alcoves that offered privacy.

  Eric Ferris sat in one of the alcoves farthest from the door. A thin, tall man with strands of light brown hair crossing his scalp, he was stooped over a book, but Hollis got the feeling he was following her with his peripheral vision.

  Miriam lightly touched his shoulder. “Mr. Ferris, this is Miss Morgan. I’ll leave you two,” she said, then to Hollis, “Miss Morgan, if you could let me know when you leave, I’ll be at my desk.”

  He looked up, his expression blank, and placed his book down on a side table.

  “So, to what do I owe this pleasure?” His voice was deep and so melodic it was disconcerting. Had she not been standing in front of him, she would have sworn it was the voice of a much younger man.

  “Mr. Ferris—”

  “Eric.”

  “Okay, Eric, my name is Hollis Morgan and I work for a law firm that is handling the es
tate of Margaret Koch.” She licked her lips. “I wanted to—”

  “Who did you say?” His voice no longer held any warmth.

  “Margaret—”

  He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the chair. His hand trembled as he rubbed his chin. Hollis said nothing. After a moment he turned his pale blue eyes to her.

  “What do you want?” His tone had an edge of danger and anger. Neither of which Hollis wanted to pursue.

  Suddenly, she felt foolish and intrusive. She should not have come. This was just plain nosiness. George would reprimand her if he knew what she was doing.

  “I just wanted to give you this letter—”

  “Get out. Leave me alone.” He waved her away.

  Hollis held out the letter. “But here I—”

  He rolled his chair around, bumping into her leg and knocking the letter to the floor. The wheels of the chair made marks across the envelope.

  He called out, “Nurse! I want to go to my room, now.”

  Hollis patted a large client file of briefs, orders, and motions. It was the final filings for Margaret Koch. Before the day was over she would give the bundle to George for his review and signature. After yesterday’s failure with Eric Ferris she was more than ready to close the matter. Hollis gathered up her pen and pad. She would enter the paperwork with the Probate Court tomorrow. The hearing would be in thirty days.

  She glanced at the clock. She had thought it was important to have the visit to Eric Ferris accomplished before she met with his granddaughter, but now she wasn’t so sure it made a difference.

  Hollis told Tiffany that she would be in her office, and when she arrived, to take Kelly Schaefer directly to the conference room.

  About fifteen minutes later, her phone buzzed. Her guest was waiting. She scooped the box of letters under one arm.

  Looking forlorn, Kelly stared out the window. As Hollis reached out to shake her hand, she had a good look at the young woman. The Town & Country style Hollis noticed at their first meeting was still present. Kelly wore her sandy brown hair long and off her face. The pair of glasses made her look older; Hollis wondered if they were necessary or merely a prop like the ones so many young people wore these days.

  “Ms. Schaefer, we meet again.” Hollis directed her to a seat at the table.

  “You found me, and you found out my phone number. What else do you know about me?” Kelly said.

  “I know you’re related to Eric Ferris. My guess is that you’re his granddaughter.”

  “So you know about him, too.” Kelly took a deep breath. “Yes, I’m his granddaughter.”

  Hollis wasn’t really surprised. The picture in the puzzle was starting to fill in.

  “Will you tell me a little about yourself?”

  Kelly’s brow wrinkled, but she acquiesced. “There’s not that much. I grew up in Chicago. My mother was a Ferris. She died when I was eight from renal failure. I was raised by my dad until he died when I was sixteen. Then it was just me and Grandfather.”

  “Do you still see him?”

  Kelly nodded.

  “Why were you looking for Margaret Koch’s letters?”

  “I didn’t know what I was looking for,” Kelly said. “Something to prove my Grandfather was innocent and shouldn’t have gone to prison for a crime that Margaret Koch committed.”

  Hollis sat a little straighter. “Wait a minute. There was no evidence that Margaret killed Charles Ferris.”

  “Oh, yes she did. My grandfather would never talk about it, but my dad told me what happened.” Kelly’s voice quavered. “My Grandfather saw her kill Charles and then he sacrificed himself and went to prison for her crime.”

  Hollis said nothing. The tension in the room was palpable. Hollis finally spoke when she saw Kelly’s shoulders drop in resignation.

  “You said you had a letter. Can I see it?” Hollis asked. “Here are copies of mine.”

  Kelly pulled her purse closer to her. “I found this letter among my mother’s possessions when I was packing Dad’s things. It has a lot of sentimental value.” She motioned with her head. “Now my grandfather is in a care facility, and I know he doesn’t want to die with a crime attached to his name. It’s what got me started looking in Margaret Koch’s house for proof that she killed Charles Ferris.” She stared at Hollis’ box of letters. “I’ve never let anyone else see it.”

  “I think I understand. Before we go there, there’s a lot about Margaret Koch as a person that confused me. But like most people she wasn’t all bad, or all good.” Hollis put her hand on the box of letters. “Er … I went to visit your grandfather. I didn’t know about your relationship.”

  “You saw Granddad? How was he?”

  Hollis flinched. “Well, I think I may have upset him.”

  “You upset Granddad? What did you say?” Kelly’s concern was evident.

  “I tried to give him a letter from Margaret that she sent to him years ago, but he refused to take it.”

  Kelly shook her head. “Is there some reason why you can’t mind your own business?”

  Hollis could feel her defenses starting to rise, but then she knew that Kelly was right.

  She spoke with deliberateness. “I was doing my job. I can tell you now: it’s clear from the letters in this box that Margaret thought your grandfather had killed his brother.”

  Kelly glared and raised her voice. “I don’t believe you. Margaret Koch is … was a liar.”

  Hollis waited for Kelly to regain her calm.

  “To show good faith, I’m going to leave you with the copies of Margaret’s letters that relate to your grandfather. There are more but they’re not relevant. I would ask that you read them here and have the receptionist come and get me when you’re finished. Then maybe you will let me read your letter.” Hollis placed the envelopes on the table. “Agreed?”

  Kelly nodded. “Agreed.”

  Hollis went back to her office and tried to distract herself from wanting to be in the conference room looking at Kelly’s expression as she read. Instead she prepared a backup set of supplemental questions for Mark’s deposition that afternoon.

  Her phone flashed a familiar number.

  “Mr. Pierson, to what do I owe this call?” She said with a tease in her voice. “It’s good to hear from you.”

  He chuckled. “I can’t talk now, but I was wondering if you’d be interested in going on a boating picnic this Saturday?”

  “What, isn’t this pre-season? Aw, wait, no games on Saturdays, right?”

  “Touché.” He lowered his voice. “I had a great time at the concert. I’d like to see you again.”

  Hollis put aside her playful tone. “I’d like to see you again, too. Saturday sounds like fun. I’ve been told I need to get a life. What time do you want me ready?”

  After making the date arrangements, she murmured goodbye.

  “Who was that?” Tiffany stood in her doorway.

  “Absolutely none of your business.” Hollis blushed. She wasn’t ready to become the next topic in the office gossip mill.

  Tiffany gave her a knowing smile. “I came by to tell you that Miss Schaefer is ready to see you.”

  Sitting in the conference room and staring into space, Kelly appeared pale and tired. Even though Hollis hadn’t given Kelly all the letters to read, she must have sped through them.

  “Do you believe in forgiveness?” Kelly asked.

  Hollis frowned. “I don’t understand your question. What do you mean?”

  “My grandfather doesn’t believe in forgiveness.”

  “I don’t think belief has anything to do with it. Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself. It allows you to move on.” Hollis looked through the window at the glittering bay. “People can do terrible things to each other, and to themselves. Forgiveness is like a reset button.”

  “A reset button, huh? I like that. But, what I still don’t understand is, if Margaret Koch didn’t kill Charles and Granddad didn’t kill him—who did?”

&nbs
p; “I’ve got an idea about that. That’s why I want us to ride out to the retirement home and visit your granddad together. We can ask him what he thinks.”

  “You’re kidding? Just go ask him?”

  “Yes. Why should we spend unnecessary time guessing? Technically, my firm is ready to close Margaret Koch’s estate. There’s one final court appearance.” Hollis glanced down at her cellphone, which had been going off repeatedly for the last fifteen minutes. It was George. He was out of the office, but she knew what he wanted. She was avoiding him until she could close the book on the Koch matter. She pushed SAVE. “We could go out there first thing in the morning and get this thing cleared up. You would be my ticket.”

  Kelly sounded confused, “Ticket?”

  Hollis bit her lip. “Well, the last time I visited him, I didn’t leave on the best of terms. Besides, I know he would want to see you.”

  “I can’t go this weekend. I’ve got previous commitments. It will have to be next week.”

  Hollis didn’t know if she could stall George that much longer. But at least now he could see she had done all the paperwork and the hearing date was scheduled.

  “Can we go on Monday?”

  “Granddad would know something’s up. I usually go on Wednesdays. He likes me to come on Social Wednesday.”

  “Okay, let’s do it Wednesday. We can drive out together.” Hollis held out her hand. “Can I see your letter now?”

  “I lied. I didn’t bring it with me.” Kelly frowned. “I know I said okay, but I would rather wait for you to read it after you hear Grandfather’s side first. Then I’ll share it with you, I promise. I’ll drive myself there.”

  “I see.” Hollis mentally kicked herself for not doing a letter exchange. “Okay, so you’ll arrange the visit for us. The facility staff know you.”

  “Well … I guess.”

  “You contact your granddad. Tell him we’d like to see him. You pick the time and let me know. I’ll meet you there.”

  “What if he doesn’t want to see us, well you, I mean.”

  “Oh, I think he will.”