A Dead Husband (Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery)

by Anna Burke

  “Time to shop!” Jessica thought as she pulled Bernadette’s crumpled grocery list from her jeans pocket and headed into the store. She couldn’t have been shopping for more than twenty minutes when her phone rang.

  “Hello,” she said, answering the phone hastily.

  “Ms. Huntington or is it Huntington-Harper? This is Paul Worthington.”

  “Sorry about that. Technically it’s Jessica Huntington-Harper, but not for long. I’m kind of in transition. But, wow, that was fast. I wasn’t even sure you’d call me back, and on a Saturday, too.” Jessica was totally blown away by the call.

  “Of course I’d call you back. I’m a good lawyer and a great colleague and always happy to talk to an alum, especially a smart one,” he replied.

  “Well I’m sure that’s true, about you being a good lawyer, I mean. I just wasn’t sure you’d remember me, but I guess you do.” Jessica was stammering, caught off guard by the call and the compliment. She tried to pull herself together so she’d sound more professional.

  “Sure I do. You wrote that great piece for Law Review that ended up in the Stanford Environmental Law Journal.”

  Now she was really stunned. “How’d you know about that?” she asked, trying not to sound as flabbergasted as she felt.

  “I was one of the reviewers. I thought it should have been published in the law review but others thought it was too specialized. I recommended you send it the Environmental Law Journal. I didn’t know who wrote it, of course, when I reviewed it, but I kept an eye out for it. When it showed up in the other journal it had your name on it. Made a lasting impression as you can tell. So, what’s up? Are you still in the Palo Alto area?”

  “No, I still have the phone number I picked up there. I was living in Cupertino until recently but that’s another story. I’m in Rancho Mirage now. You know, out near Palm Springs?”

  “Sure I know where that is. We’re in the process of opening a satellite office on El Paseo in Palm Desert. A lot of our clients have bought second homes near you as weekend getaways, and where they go, we go, within reason, of course. Our criminal defense work gets a lot of attention in the media but we’re pretty much a one stop shop once someone becomes a client. So we’re always looking for other ways to keep our clients happy. As it happens I’m going to be out there next week.”

  “That is great luck because I need help. A friend of mine may be in trouble depending on what happens in the next few days.”

  Jessica did her best to fill him in briefly.

  “Bottom line is she’s scared. She wants me to represent her because I’m an old friend who also happens to be a lawyer. The thing is I’ve told her it’s really in her best interest to hire someone like you who has more experience in this area, if it comes to that. At this point, though, I don’t know how seriously they’re looking at her as a suspect or if she needs a lawyer at all.”

  “Sounds like a real mess,” he said. “Unfortunately, a spouse is automatically on the short list of suspects. Especially given the circumstances, the victim killed in his own home with no obvious evidence of a break-in or a struggle, and nothing of value taken. The police are probably figuring already that your friend Roger knew his assailant.”

  “Well, there are a couple other issues. Apparently, Laura and her husband were stressed out a lot about money in the past few months. The neighbors alerted the police a couple times about noisy fights. There was never any physical violence but I think there must be some kind of police record that will come up during the investigation. The second thing is, as it turns out, Laura wasn’t completely forthcoming with the police about where she was when her husband was killed.”

  “Ouch. Both of those issues could draw a little more interest from the police than she’d like. Where was she and where did she say she was?”

  “She was out all night. She’d been out with me and some friends Friday night and either told the police or led them to believe she’d stayed with me at my place. Actually she was with a guy. Our waiter at dinner, as it turns out. He showed up at a dance club we told him we were headed to later. Apparently, one thing led to another and she ended up at his apartment. She’s really embarrassed about the whole thing.”

  “Well, embarrassed or not, if she was really with him at the time her husband was killed, that gives her an alibi. Lying to the police is never a good idea. She can certainly make a case that she was distraught and confused when she spoke to them, especially after a nasty fall and a bang on the head.”

  “That’s exactly what I’ve told her. Thank God I haven’t been misleading her. So what should I do?” Jessica asked.

  “Find out as much as you can about what the police have in the way of evidence, and what sort of story they’re beginning to put together. Do you know where they took the body?” Paul asked.

  “They told Laura that her husband’s body was going to be taken to the County morgue that has an office in Indio. I presume they’ll release the body in a couple days for burial, once the autopsy has been completed. I imagine it’ll take longer than that to get an autopsy report.”

  “If they can make a decent guess about time of death and you can corroborate her alibi that might be enough for the police to lose interest in your friend and start looking elsewhere. The coroner should make that info available in a preliminary report fairly soon. The cops are pretty stretched these days so you might want to hire your own investigator. That’s especially true if your client is interested in figuring out who did kill her husband, rather than simply exonerating herself. We have a couple good investigators on staff. You could put one of them to work, or they could recommend someone from outside the firm. In any case, that’ll help but it will add to the cost of sorting things out for your friend.”

  “She’s an old friend, and a good one. We’ll try to keep money out of it. I’ll make sure you and anyone else on your staff get compensated. We need all the help we can get on this, and the sooner the better.”

  “I don’t want to add to the stress your friend is feeling. But if her husband was mixed up in something that got him killed, she might be in some danger too, you know?”

  “That did occur to me. All the more reason to get a jump on the investigation,” Jessica replied, feeling a telltale flutter in her chest.

  “I’ll get hold of a couple investigators we use, and will get them to contact you. One of them spends time in Palm Springs, so he already knows his way around. Is the number you left the best one to use?”

  “That’s my cell. Let me give you the land line, too, and my email address while I’m at it.” Jessica gave him the information then had the presence of mind to thank him for his help. She hoped she aptly communicated her gratitude. Jessica was able to gauge when she was in over my head and this was definitely one of those occasions.

  “No need to thank me. Let’s plan to meet next week when I’m in town so you can fill me in on anything else you find out. We can talk money then too, if you’d like.”

  “Sure, if you let me buy you lunch,” Jessica insisted.

  “Will do, let me check my schedule. Let’s see, how about Tuesday around one?” Paul asked.

  Jessica didn’t have a schedule to check so she felt pretty good about agreeing to the date and time. “Works for me. Where’s your office?”

  “Hang on a second, let me pull up the address for you. I’ll give you the phone number for that office too.” Jessica typed the information into the contact list on her phone.

  “All right, Paul. I’ll meet you there and we can decide where to go for lunch. Thanks again. I’ll see you on Tuesday.”

  “See you then,” he said as he hung up.

  She put the phone away and tried to re-focus on her grocery shopping. She checked to be sure she had picked up the things on Bernadette’s list. Some items of her own had been added as part of her meager effort at adventurous shopping. At this point, it wasn’t clear she had all she needed to put together complete meals, but she and Bernadette would have to make do.
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  Jessica wasn’t completely recovered from the previous night’s excesses. The couple hours spent with Laura had been grueling. It was nothing like what Laura was going through, of course. If only she could get her to agree to let Paul, or somebody from his firm, represent her if the need arose. Maybe she’d agree if Jessica offered to serve as co-counsel. That was something she might be able to pull off without getting disbarred for misrepresenting her client. For now Jessica wanted to get home. Tuesday suddenly seemed awfully close. What on earth could she learn by then that could help Laura?

  CHAPTER 5

  As soon as she got home and put the groceries away Jessica felt more settled. One of the good things that came from her stint as a desperate housewife in Cupertino was the realization that there’s a certain amount of comfort in carrying out domestic chores. She also acquired a much greater appreciation for how dull and repetitive such duties could be and how much work it really took to run a household, even with help.

  Of course, she never had the likes of a Bernadette to help her in Cupertino. She felt sorry for all the times she had taken Bernadette for granted. What a little ingrate she had been. It had never occurred to her to volunteer to help, and she routinely gave both Bernadette and her mother a hard time about the few small chores delegated to her. She flashed on the current chaos in her closet and vowed to get to it before Bernadette could see it.

  By the end of her second year of domesticity, Jessica had become a reasonably good cook. Unfortunately, she was often too nauseated from being pumped full of fertility drugs or her short-lived pregnancies to enjoy it. She managed to eat, though. Enough to pack on the extra padding she still carried. No matter, she was turning over a new leaf, no more binges of any kind. It was time to get back on track, to eat right, get enough sleep, and establish a routine that included exercise. She did not want to let Laura down and didn’t want to cause Bernadette anymore worry.

  “I’ll drink to that,” she said aloud, as she opened a 2004 Marcassin from the Three Sisters vineyard, chilled in the fridge. She’d cleaned out the wine cellar when she left the Cupertino house. Mostly out of spite, but also because the wine was a symbol of happier times she wanted to hold onto. Enjoying wine together had been one of those things that started out as an adventure. Despite their insanely busy schedules, she and Jim had spent some wonderfully romantic weekends in the wine country. Those were tender moments stolen from their increasingly demanding professional lives.

  Opening the wine, Jessica was carried back to those lazy mornings she and Jim spent in bed, making love with abandon. Then lounging, wrapped in each other’s arms. Afternoons were spent cycling amid lush, rolling hills covered in a patchwork of vineyards. The hills were studded by quaint farmhouses and stunning vintner’s estate homes. They roamed from one tasting room to another, discovering one great wine after another. Jessica wasn’t exactly sure when things changed. At some point, though, the wines they found on these excursions switched from cherished mementos of intimate escapes to commodities worthy of investment.

  Jessica got two glasses from the cupboard and poured a little wine into one of them. Out of habit she swirled the wine in the glass, and took a whiff. A hint of burnt caramel and something tropical burst upon her. Similar flavors rolled over her tongue as she took a sip, along with notes of citrus and oak in a buttery texture. It was as wonderful as she remembered, sans the romance. She filled the glasses, and set about making a salad.

  She hacked off a chunk of bread from the crusty artisanal multigrain loaf she bought at Trader Joe’s and took a bite. It was wonderful too. She felt pretty pious about that fact that it was also healthy. She was ravenous. Jessica could barely remember eating that sandwich at Laura’s. She must have because she had returned to Sara’s kitchen with an empty plate. She took another bite of bread and then set off toward the wing that housed the suite used by Bernadette, wine in hand.

  “Bernadette, I poured some wine, you want a glass? How about having a salad with me for dinner?”

  Bernadette opened the door and took a slightly awkward step from her room, stopping to stretch her tiny frame. “It’s no fun getting old. Wine sounds good, salad too. I can fix it.” She took the glass Jessica offered and headed for the kitchen, tucking a beautiful crystal rosary into the pocket of the pants she wore.

  “Oh no you don’t! It’s my turn to feed us,” Jessica said, quickening her pace to get ahead of Bernadette. “I bought some wonderful heirloom tomatoes and fresh basil. It’ll only take a couple minutes to make a Caprese salad. You can slice some bread for us if you want and set out some olive oil for dipping.”

  That seemed to satisfy her urge to help. As Bernadette cut the bread, Jessica rinsed and sliced the big, odd-shaped heirloom tomatoes in yellow and red, arranging them on a plate for each of them, atop a bed of spring mix. She topped the tomatoes with slices of fresh mozzarella, and then added fragrant basil leaves. After sprinkling a little kosher salt and grinding fresh pepper on the salads she finished them off with a drizzle of EVOO.

  Jessica took both salads from the counter where she was working. She set them on placemats Bernadette had laid out on the enormous island in the kitchen, along with napkins, forks and knives. She went back to her work area and retrieved a bowl of freshly washed berries, her wine glass and the open bottle of wine. She placed the fruit and wine between them on the island. Settling onto a bar stool next to Bernadette, Jessica refilled their glasses.

  “Cheers!” she said holding her glass out. Bernadette gave it a little clink.

  “Thank you, Jessica.” She took a sip of the wine then dug into her salad. “Mm, que delicioso, niña,” she said after taking a couple bites.

  “It’s one of my favorites,” Jessica said filling her mouth with salad, savoring the blend of fresh vibrant flavors. They spent the next few minutes eating in silence, devouring the bread, salad, and berries. You could not beat the Coachella Valley when it came to fresh produce, a consolation during the hot summer months. Abundant, fresh and affordable, she had no excuse not to eat well.

  Bernadette rested her fork on her plate and looked at Jessica. “You feeling better than you did this morning?”

  “Sort of, I guess, yes.” Jessica paused from shoveling food into her mouth. “I really am sorry about this morning and last night too. I’m not as big an idiot as I seem to be. I didn’t just walk out on my marriage for no reason, you know?” Jessica choked up. She took a big swig of the wine to clear her throat.

  Bernadette reached over and patted her hand. “I know, Jessica. You’re no fool. And when you’re ready to tell me about it you will. You just got to be strong, you’ll get through this. But enough of the silly stuff like last night, okay? That won’t help anything.” Jessica nodded solemnly wishing she could unburden herself to Bernadette about her marriage but she just couldn’t.

  Bernadette went back to eating then, turned toward her again. “By the way, Jessica, how’s Laura doing?”

  “Laura’s in more trouble than I am, Bernadette. I want to help her but I don’t know if I can.” Tears were filling her eyes. “When you pray for me, say a prayer for her, too, okay?”

  Bernadette reached over and pulled Jessica toward her. Jessica leaned her head on Bernadette’s shoulder. It was her turn to sob like a baby. It didn’t last long but it was a good cry, cleansing and healing. Without the bitterness or fury she had felt the last couple times she broke down.

  Bernadette took a little packet of tissues from her pocket and offered one to Jessica. Jessica accepted it gratefully, dabbing at her eyes and blowing her nose. Bernadette was a little teary too and took a tissue for herself.

  “You know what we need, Jessica?” Before Jessica could answer she exclaimed, “ice cream!”

  In a flash that belied her earlier complaint about aging, Bernadette hopped off the bar stool, and headed to the kitchen sink, taking their dirty salad plates with her. She opened the freezer and pulled out a tub of Graeter’s cookie dough chip ice cream. An “Oprah-favorit
e” Jessica’s mother had it flown in before it became more widely available in local grocery stores. Bernadette zapped the container in the microwave for a few seconds to make it easier to scoop and fixed two bowls.

  Jessica sighed, vowing to initiate her get healthy plan tomorrow. Bernadette set down the ice cream then climbed back onto her seat at the kitchen island. The ice cream was worth every calorie, every gram of fat and every spoonful of sugar that made it so wickedly rich. They polished off the ice cream right away, but spent the next half hour or so just chatting. Their conversation ambled as they talked about small, mundane things. Bernadette gossiped a little about the few neighbors around this time of the year in their gated enclave. Eventually, they had a good laugh about that moment when Bernadette had burst in on Tommy and Brien and Jessica that morning.

  Bernadette spoke about the latest developments in her family. As far as Jessica knew, Bernadette’s family consisted of a married sister who lived just outside the valley near the Banning pass. Her sister had been married for nearly forty years, had four grown children, and had just become a grandmother for the eighth time. Bernadette kept track of important milestones. She had been present at many of the big events in the lives of her nieces and nephews including graduations, weddings, baby showers, and a lot of birthdays. As the children grew older and started their own families they moved farther apart. She saw them less often, but at least a couple times a year the entire family congregated at her sister’s house in Beaumont, and Auntie Bernadette would be there.

  Listening to Bernadette tell about their latest accomplishments Jessica wondered again if Bernadette missed having a family of her own. Once when she was younger she had asked if Bernadette had ever been in love. She had answered right away.

  “Of course, Jessica.”

  “What was it like?” Jessica pried, wide-eyed and serious.