Arson at the Art Gallery

by Grace York

  "Just about. You can put him outside. I need to make one phone call, then we're off."

  Olivia and Charlie headed for the back door while Addison tapped Finn's number on her phone. It rang a few times, then went to voicemail. She left a message asking him to call her back when it was convenient.

  "All set?" she asked Olivia, who was locking the back door.

  "Sure. Can I drive?"

  "Of course."

  During the drive Addison went through the wish list she'd made of furniture and accessories for the beach house. Top of the list was a large dining table to fill the other half of the great room. She wanted one big enough to seat all the guests should she ever have a full house.

  There were six bedrooms in the beach house besides hers. One would always be Olivia's room, and off-limits to guests even when Olivia was not there. Addison wanted her daughter to feel like the beach house was her home. That left five possible guest rooms, with a total of ten possible guests. Add in herself and Olivia, and Addison figured she needed a table to seat twelve.

  Layla was currently occupying one of the guest rooms, and Addison had said she could stay as long as she needed to. That room was already furnished, but the other four would need beds and side tables at the very least. The bathrooms all needed towels and accessories as well.

  Addison thought about all those bathrooms. If the bed and breakfast was full, she could have five bathrooms to clean every day. Five beds to make, five lots of sheets and towels to wash. Not to mention five breakfasts to make, and the dinners she'd also planned to offer. For the first time she began to wonder whether Olivia might be right. Maybe the bed and breakfast idea was more work than she'd bargained for.

  She could always hire some help, of course. But that would mean paying salaries, and superannuation, and all the tax and other complications that go with having staff. She'd never wanted to run a small business. She just wanted some company. And someone to cook for.

  "What's up, Mum?" asked Olivia. "You've been quiet for a while."

  Addison wasn't ready to voice her concerns about the bed and breakfast to her daughter. Olivia had been against the idea from the start. Instead, she focused on the reason for their trip into Riverwood.

  "I'm just trying to think of how to furnish each of the bedrooms. We don't need to do them all at once, do we?"

  "Nope. You can do one at a time if you like. Weren't you going to make each one a different colour?"

  "Yes I was, but I've gone off that idea. Oh, I don't know. This business with Jenna has really got me all messed up. I wish Detective Wilcox would hurry up and catch the killer. I feel so uneasy about it all."

  "I know what you mean." Olivia pulled into the parking area of a large furniture store. There were several such stores in a strip along the road leading into Riverwood. "This is as good a place to start as any," said Olivia. "Let's put the murder out of our minds for now. And you don't have to decide on any furniture today, either. We're just looking."

  They got out of the Rav 4 and Addison linked her arm in her daughter's as they headed for the first store. "You're absolutely right. Let's just enjoy a day out."

  Two hours and four furniture stores later, Addison's phone rang. It was Finn Maguire.

  "Hello, Finlay," she said as she answered. "Thank you for calling me back."

  "No problem, Mrs Lake. What can I do for you?"

  Addison found a quiet corner and sat in an armchair. Olivia was on the other side of the store looking at curtains.

  "Yesterday you told us that Jenna had you investigating that development in Getaway Bay for her. I wanted to ask whether she had you looking into anything else recently. Anything personal, I mean. Not connected to her work at your firm."

  "Yes, actually, there was something. Hang on a minute, I'll check my notes. My memory is terrible." Addison heard the familiar clicking of keys before Finn found what he was looking for.

  "I finished this investigation for her last week," he said. "That's why I didn't mention it yesterday. I figured she'd already dealt with it. I only wanted to know if I should continue with the unfinished one."

  "Okay. Can you tell me about it now?"

  "Actually, I'm not sure. Jenna never said whether it was confidential, but I don't know whether I can—"

  "Finn, I appreciate your concerns. But my cousin is no longer with us." Addison chose her words carefully, making sure Finn knew she and Jenna were family. "What you investigated for her may be nothing, but it may have something to do with her death. I'd really like to hear about it."

  There was silence for a long while, and Addison began to worry he might not tell her.

  "I guess it's okay," he finally said. "It's not confidential as far as the company is concerned. It has to do with Jenna's father."

  Addison pulled out her notebook as Finn started talking. Her fingers raced to keep up with everything he said. It turned out Jenna had indeed been investigating someone other than Ed Mathieson. And by the time Finn was finished, Addison had little doubt that what Jenna had discovered had gotten her killed.

  28

  "What's the rush?" asked Olivia as Addison bundled her out of the store.

  "We have to get to the nursing home, now. Give me the keys."

  Olivia fished in her handbag for the car keys and handed them to Addison. Addison almost broke into a run to get to the Rav 4.

  "Has something happened to Uncle Dennis?" Olivia asked as they climbed in.

  Addison threw her bag into the back seat and started the engine. She pulled out of the parking lot and raced off in the direction of Getaway Bay.

  "Mum, talk to me!" Olivia yelled. "And put on your seatbelt. You're going too fast."

  Addison took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. Olivia was right; a car accident was the last thing they needed. She fastened her seatbelt and eased off the accelerator.

  "Sorry," she said. "I just… we need to get to the nursing home."

  "Is it Uncle Dennis? Who were you talking to on the phone?"

  "Uncle Dennis is fine. At least I hope he is. That was Jenna's colleague on the phone, the one we were talking to yesterday."

  "The one who told you she'd been investigating Ed the baker."

  "Right." Addison checked her blind spot then changed lanes to overtake a slower vehicle. "It turns out Ed wasn't the only Getaway Bay resident Jenna had been checking up on."

  Addison explained to Olivia everything Finn had told her. It took most of the journey to the nursing home, but eventually Olivia was as convinced as Addison.

  "We need to call Wilcox," said Olivia.

  "Yes. Grab my phone, his number will be in the recent calls list." Olivia did so, and put the phone on speaker. It went to voicemail. Addison yelled a message for him to meet them at the nursing home as soon as possible, explaining her suspicions about who killed Jenna.

  "Do you think we should call the police station directly?" Olivia asked. "Maybe that other officer is there."

  "Good idea," said Addison, swinging the Rav into the nursing home parking lot. She parked in a space by the door and jumped out. "You do that while I go and make sure Uncle Dennis is okay."

  Addison raced into the nursing home reception area before Olivia had time to protest. Before heading to Dennis's room, though, she needed to quickly check something. She approached the desk, where a young nurse sat staring at her phone.

  "Excuse me, I'm Dennis Dallimore's niece. Can I please check to see if he had any visitors on Thursday last week?"

  The young girl shrugged. "Sure. There's the visitor's book. Help yourself."

  Addison quickly leafed through the book she'd signed herself on the occasions she'd visited with Layla. There were two visitors logged as seeing Dennis on Thursday: Layla, and Jenna. Just as she'd thought.

  "Thanks," Addison called, and went off to Dennis's room. When she got there, however, her uncle was nowhere to be seen. Only Layla was there, making the bed.

  Addison panicked. "Layla! What's happened? W
here is he?"

  Layla was startled by her voice. "Oh, Addison. It's okay, he's fine. Angie has taken him in the wheelchair. They've gone out to the garden."

  "Why did she take him without you?"

  Layla tucked in the last corner of the sheet and then flopped into a chair. "To be honest I needed a break for a few minutes. He's been driving me crazy all morning."

  "What do you mean?"

  "He keeps saying Jenna's name, over and over again. Like he was yesterday, but more persistent. Like he wants her. I don't know why, she hardly ever visited him. Occasionally he'll switch and start asking for Angie, too, even when she's standing right there. Then he'll go back to Jenna. I'm not sure how much longer I can keep telling him she's in Sydney."

  Addison grabbed hold of Layla by both arms and yanked her out of the chair. "Where are they?"

  "The garden, I told you. Angie suggested she take him out for a while. What's wrong?"

  Addison was already out the door. She saw a sign for the garden, and followed it at a run. Olivia had caught up to them by that stage, and she and Layla followed Addison.

  They burst through the door to the garden, and Addison scanned all the wheelchairs and carers out there. None of them were Uncle Dennis and Angie.

  "They're not here. Where else could they be?" Addison cried.

  "I don't know," said Layla, her eyes wide with fright now. "What's going on Addison? You're scaring me!"

  But Addison was off again. The nursing home wasn't that big, they couldn't be far away. She raced back inside and down the halls, opening doors as she went. Olivia caught on quick and as they went down each hall Addison took one side, and Olivia the other. Layla followed behind them apologising to all the residents they disturbed with their manic searching.

  "I wish you'd tell me what's happening," said Layla as they reached the visitor's lounge. Addison remembered this door had been open each time she'd been past it recently. Now it was closed.

  She flung it open and there they were. Uncle Dennis in his wheelchair, and Angie standing next to him with a needle in her hand.

  29

  "Angie, put down the needle," said Addison. "Don't do anything stupid."

  Angie held the needle closer to Dennis's throat. "Stay back, or I'll kill him."

  "No you won't," said Addison, although she really had no idea what the nurse was capable of. "I know you care about him. Please, he's done nothing to hurt you."

  Angie's eyes darted between Addison, Layla, and Olivia. She kept the needle pointed at Dennis's throat. Dennis's eyes told Addison he was fully aware of what was going on. The poor man didn't need this.

  "Why are you doing this?" asked Layla. "What's going on?"

  Addison ignored her cousin and kept her focus on Angie. "It was you who killed Jenna, wasn't it?"

  "She was a mean person," said Angie. "She didn't deserve Dennis. Or Layla."

  "I can't disagree with you there," said Addison. She did her best to keep her voice calm and even, while on the inside her stomach was doing somersaults. How long before the police arrived?

  "She was only interested in Dennis's money," Angie said, bolder now she was finally being heard.

  "That's not why you killed her though, is it? Not the only reason."

  Angie shook her head, but didn't speak. Her shoulders tensed, and her grip on the needle tightened. Addison needed to keep her talking, or at least listening.

  "Jenna came to see you here the day before she died, didn't she? She was investigating you."

  "She had no right…"

  "Maybe not. But she found out some pretty incriminating stuff, didn't she? Information that would at least end your career, if not put you in jail."

  Angie just stared at Addison.

  "What information?" asked Layla.

  Addison cast a sideways glance at Layla. "Did you know Angie is a beneficiary of your father's will?"

  "No. Jenna handled all the legal stuff. We have an unwritten agreement. I look after Dad while he's still with us, and Jenna was in charge of everything that would need doing after…" her voice trailed off as she saw the tears in her father's eyes.

  "Apparently Uncle Dennis changed his will a year ago," said Addison. "He left a monetary gift to his favourite nurse. Jenna didn't think much of it at the time, she reasoned Uncle Dennis was of sound mind and could leave his money to whoever he wanted. But after meeting Angie she wanted more information, just to reassure herself your father wasn't being conned. It was a significant financial gift."

  Angie twitched nervously as Addison spoke, but the needle didn't get any closer to Dennis's neck. Addison kept talking.

  "Jenna, or rather her associate, Finn, found out that Angie had received other such financial 'gifts' from grateful patients."

  "I didn't coerce anyone," said Angie. "It was their right to leave me whatever they wanted."

  "That's for the police to sort out. Whether it was legal or not, I'm guessing the nursing homes you've worked for would be interested to hear how you've been gifted money by nine terminally ill patients over the last six years."

  Layla stepped forward. "You little—"

  Addison shot out an arm to stop her. She had no idea what was in that needle. The last thing they wanted to do right now was spook the woman.

  "I was trying to help you," Angie said to Layla. "Your sister didn't care about your father. She didn't care about anyone. All she wanted was his money, as if she didn't already have enough of her own. I got rid of her for you."

  "She was my sister!"

  "Jenna."

  They all looked at Dennis, who was now crying openly. "Jenna," he said again.

  "Oh my goodness," said Layla. "You knew, Dad. You weren't asking for Jenna all day. Or Angie. You were trying to tell me Angie killed Jenna." Dennis nodded, and Layla started to cry too.

  "I told him I got rid of her," said Angie. "So the good daughter would inherit his money. I thought he'd be happy. I did it for you. For your family."

  "You did not," Layla screamed.

  Addison was shocked at the force of Layla's voice. She glanced backwards searching for her daughter, but Olivia was gone. She must have backed out at some point.

  "You killed my sister to cover up what you'd done. All the money you stole from dying people. You're nothing but a thief and a murderer!"

  Addison couldn't hold Layla back anymore. They both lunged forward at the same time, Layla grabbing Angie and Addison going for the needle. Addison managed to grab hold of the needle and get it away from Dennis, but Angie broke free from Layla's grasp.

  She got as far as the doorway before she ran straight into Olivia and Constable Short.

  30

  Jenna's funeral was held two days after Angie was arrested for her murder. Layla finally settled on having it in Getaway Bay, so her father could be there. He'd been well enough to attend the service, then Layla and Addison had gone with him back to the nursing home and settled him in for the evening.

  "There you go, Dad," said Layla, tucking him into bed. "Do you want me to read to you? I think we've only got a couple of chapters to go."

  Dennis shook his head. Layla had hold of one hand, and he held out the other towards Addison. She came forward and took hold of it, and Dennis smiled and closed his eyes. Addison felt him squeeze her hand hard, and it looked like he was doing the same on Layla's side.

  "I think he's happy," said Addison.

  "Me too. Good night, Dad." Layla leaned forward and gave him a kiss on the forehead. They sat with him for a while as he drifted off to sleep.

  "Let's go," Layla whispered once his breathing had evened out.

  "Are you sure?"

  "Yes. We've got a party to go to."

  By the time they arrived at the beach house, Olivia was in full entertaining mode. It was a small but lively bunch that had gathered in the backyard for Jenna's wake. Jason had cleared some of the overgrown vegetation, and they'd set up a barbecue where the new pizza oven was going to be. Detective Wilcox and Mr
s Jones had both provided some outdoor chairs, and Hazel and her husband Martin had brought an esky full of cold drinks. Bella and Charlie were off exploring the rest of the backyard.

  "How is he?" asked Mrs Jones once Layla and Addison had joined the circle.

  "He's doing okay," said Layla. "He was quite lucid during the service, but then in the car on the way back to the home he asked why Mum hadn't been there."

  "He seemed content when we left just now," said Addison.

  Layla changed the subject. "Did that woman confess?" she asked Detective Wilcox.

  "She did," he replied, handing both Layla and Addison a glass of white wine each before retaking his seat. "It seems she's been pulling the 'remember me in your will' trick for quite a few years. She'd built up a nice little nest egg for herself. We'll be working on getting that back to the families, but it will be a drawn-out affair. She's not going to need it where she's going."

  "Was she in there with Jenna when I was outside the gallery?" Jason asked.

  Wilcox nodded. "Yes. She said she heard you, and kept quiet until you left."

  "Could I…"

  "There was nothing you could have done," said Wilcox. "Jenna was already dead at that point. Angie brought a wrench she'd stolen from the nursing home's handyman. She says she only wanted to scare Jenna into giving her the evidence regarding the wills, but things escalated."

  "Jenna wasn't easily scared off," said Layla.

  "No, I suspect not. Whether Angie went there with the intention of murder or not is up to the courts to decide. But either way, she'll be going to prison for a very long time."

  "I can't believe she had me so fooled," said Layla. "I really thought she genuinely cared for Dad."

  "I still think she did," said Addison. "Just because she got money out of them, didn't mean she didn't care for her patients. I think she saw a way to use her situation to get a few extra bucks."

  "Well it's still manipulating and cold," said Jason. "I'm glad Jenna caught her. I'm just sorry it cost her her life. If only I'd been there sooner."