Discarded Promises

by Candice Poarch

  Quilla read the diary until eleven, when it finally dropped on the floor as she nodded off, unable to stay awake another second. By the time she woke up the next morning, Denton was gone and Irving was in the living room watching the news.

  The next day, the women camped out at Denton’s place and Quilla was able to help with the preparations for the funeral and the buffet afterward.

  Quilla hated wakes and funerals. They were necessary to pay respect to the departed, but they were sad occasions. Maybe because it was all so final.

  Quilla met Loretta’s brothers at the wake. The boys were twins and a couple of years younger than Loretta. They seemed like any other family, really. Loretta seemed closer to her brothers than she had been to Sadie. They all admired Sadie as their older sister.

  Trait attended the wake, and Quilla wondered, Why the extra attention? What about the murder had finally piqued his interest? What did he expect to find at the dinner? Certainly the murderer wasn’t present. Lord knew, the authorities didn’t spend a lot of time worrying about mistresses.

  Quilla had brought Lucky with her since the dog had played an important role in Sadie’s life. Sadie had loved Lucky. The animal lovers understood.

  Quilla still couldn’t really use her left arm that well, and Denton fixed her a plate and led her to a table before he joined her father on the other side of the room. While she ate, several people stopped by.

  At one point, Loretta’s two brothers came over and sat with her.

  “We want to thank you for helping Loretta with all the arrangements,” one of them said. They resembled each other so much she couldn’t tell them apart.

  Quilla nodded. “Sadie was a sweet person. You can tell by the turnout today.”

  Loretta joined them with a long sigh as she sat. “Except I don’t think anyone really knew her. Her feelings were always close to her heart.”

  A twin covered her hand with his. “You did all you could for her.”

  She glanced at Quilla. “I tried to get her to move back to Memphis, but she wouldn’t hear of it. I should have tried harder. I should have made more trips here.”

  “Don’t torture yourself,” Quilla said. “Relationships are a two-way street.”

  “There were too many painful memories in Memphis and she wanted to get as far away as she could.”

  Her brother glanced around. “She touched a lot of lives here.”

  Quilla looked at Loretta. “I have Sadie’s diary. I was reading it, trying to figure out who killed her. I haven’t turned it over to the police yet. It seemed too personal to . . .”

  She nodded. “I understand.”

  “I know you’re leaving soon and I’ll give it to you.”

  “If you think it will help, keep it awhile. But I would like it as soon as you finish.”

  Quilla nodded. “I’ll make sure you get it.” She fed Lucky a piece of chicken.

  “My brothers and I were discussing Lucky. If necessary, one of them can take her to Memphis and give her to a loving family. Neither of them can keep her. They have ferocious dogs who would have Lucky for a snack.”

  Quilla shivered and shuddered in horror at the very idea. Even to suggest such a thing was unconscionable. Quilla picked up Lucky and held her close.

  “But if you know of anyone who would like her . . .” Loretta continued.

  “I’d be happy to take care of her,” Quilla said. “She already knows me.”

  “One less thing for me to worry about. Since Sadie loved her pet, I’d like her to be in a good home.”

  “Don’t worry. She’ll be well cared for.” Quilla ruffled Lucky’s fur and fed her another piece of chicken before placing her gently on the floor.

  Loretta stood and motioned to her brothers. “We have to mingle.”

  When they left, Trait joined her. Denton and her father approached only seconds later.

  “You were correct about Ms. Croft.”

  “I’m surprised you’re here.”

  “No telling what one can gather by attending these things,” he said, glancing around the room. “Do you know which of these people were Sadie’s close friends?”

  “A lot of people knew Sadie, but I don’t think she had any really close friends.”

  “Why do you ask?” Denton asked.

  “Sadie had a ring in her possession that had been stolen recently.”

  “You mean a piece that was part of the robberies going on around town?” Quilla asked.

  “Exactly. It’s possible Sadie was part of a burglary ring and that was why she was killed. Maybe someone got greedy or perhaps someone was concerned that Sadie had the urge to tell all in her book.”

  “What did you find?” Denton asked.

  “A three-carat diamond set in platinum.” Quilla remembered that Paul Walden, the jeweler’s son, had asked about a diamond. He didn’t mention anything about platinum. He would have mentioned that, wouldn’t he? Poor thing, he had cried through the brief ceremony. He truly had feelings for Sadie. Quilla doubted he would have killed her. He sat at one of the tables eating hors d’oeuvres. Randall sat with him. He and Randall must be friends through their fathers’ association. Paul was a few years older than Randall. It was odd, Quilla thought, that a man would allow his son to attend his mistress’s wake.

  Funny. Sadie had been Tom’s employee as well as his mistress. Attending an employee’s wake was appropriate. She didn’t understand his absence. Most of the people from the apartment building were there. Missing was the impatient man who’d nearly slammed the door in Quilla’s face when she was going door to door seeking information.

  “Since some robberies have occurred after Sadie’s death, she might have purchased the piece thinking it was a legitimate sale,” Quilla said.

  “We’re checking into all the possibilities.”

  “I’m sorry I can’t help you.”

  “If you hear anything, let me know, okay?”

  Quilla nodded. “I think you should take a long look at Tom Goodwill.”

  “Doesn’t he own the building where Sadie worked and lived? Why do you suspect him?”

  “His wife’s family owns the building,” Quilla said. “And he was having an affair with Sadie. Enough reason for you to question him. I told you that before.”

  Both of his eyebrows arched as he regarded her. “You mind if I run the investigation?”

  “Oh, my gosh. There he is. Perfect time to question him.”

  “In the middle of a party?”

  “No time like the present. I know he did it. He even looks slicker than the devil.”

  “Leave it alone, Quilla. Let me do my job.”

  “Well, do it then. You’ve been sitting on your hands for weeks now. If you had started when I first brought it to your attention, you might have found the murderer by now. Now everything is old.”

  Trait turned dark with anger. “I see you still have that silver tongue. I have followed, and I will continue to follow police procedure.”

  “Well.” Quilla rolled her eyes and stood. “Excuse me.”

  Before Quilla could take two steps, Denton was beside her leading her back to the table.

  “I hope you aren’t going up to him to tell him what I think you are.”

  “I’m just trying to get some information out of him.”

  He steered Quilla back to her seat. “He’s not going to confess to murder.”

  “I know that and I wasn’t going to ask him if he killed her. I’m not stupid.”

  “Good. Now sit down. Stay away from him.”

  He handed her to the seat beside Trait, who had gotten up, but when she returned he resumed his seat.

  He threw Denton a grateful look. “At least someone can talk some sense into her. I never could.”

  “I’m leaving for work soon,” Denton told Quilla later. “Jake and your father will walk you home. Irving will be with you, too. I’m feeling nervous about tonight. You aren’t to be out of Irving’s or Jake’s sight at any time, understood?
”

  Quilla was watching Tom’s progress. He was walking around like the king of the manor, one hand dug deep into a pocket, when he stopped to chat with Loretta.

  She felt Denton’s finger on her chin, tilting it so she could only stare directly into his face.

  “Did you hear me?” he asked.

  “Yes, yes.” She was still trying to track Tom’s progress.

  “Don’t be stubborn, Quilla.”

  “I’m not. Knock yourself out.”

  He kissed her lightly before he left, and she tore her focus from Tom to watch his progress across the floor. He looked tall and handsome as he strode away from her.

  “That young man thinks a lot of you.” She didn’t hear her father approach.

  “I guess.”

  “No guessing about it. Let me know when you’re ready to leave.” Then he looked nervous. “Quilla, I’d like you to meet someone.”

  Quilla looked behind him. A woman was approaching their table. She was heavier than her mother and had a kind face and medium brown complexion. She was dressed in a very pretty gold suit decorated with embroidery beads.

  Her father took the woman’s hand in his. “This is Joyce Parsons,” he said quietly. “Joyce, this is my daughter, Quilla.”

  Quilla extended a hand.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” The woman’s smile was warm and genuine.

  “And you.” Quilla wasn’t ready to meet this woman. She’d already told her father that. Why did he have to push things? She hadn’t dealt with him being back in her life. How did he expect her to accept another woman so quickly?

  She understood it was only natural that he was in a relationship. It wasn’t that that bothered her. She didn’t want to worry about anything else she couldn’t control. And when her father started drinking again—and she knew he would—the nightmares would return.

  Lucky must have sensed her unrest, because one minute she was resting on the floor, the next her front paws were on Quilla’s leg.

  Quilla was rarely without something to say, but at that moment she couldn’t think of a single thing to keep the conversation flowing. So she recited the old staple. “What a beautiful suit.”

  Joyce smiled and again it was genuine. “Thank you.”

  Her father was nervous. He motioned Joyce to a seat and she sat on the other side of him.

  The thought flowing through Quilla’s mind was that her father was so typical of what she thought of men. How like a man to put them in such an uncomfortable position at an occasion like this.

  “The crab dip is wonderful,” Joyce said. “Did you try it, Quilla?”

  “Yes, I did. And I agree.”

  Joyce spread some crab on a cracker and handed it to her father. As he ate it, Quilla sensed they had dated long enough for them to become familiar and intimate with each other. They knew each other’s quirks. And Quilla could see that Joyce truly liked Owen.

  Why didn’t he treat her mother warm like that? Something flickered in her mind. At one time they had shared that closeness, but after the drinking, that companionship had been lost forever.

  Quilla regarded them again. They smiled warmly at each other when Joyce said, “I have more food than I can eat. You have to help me eat it.”

  Quilla wondered when the tension would ease when Hattie plopped into a seat next to her. She wore her jewels again against a black wool dress. Obviously she used any occasion to wear her jewelry.

  “My goodness. We have a good turnout today,” she said.

  “Hattie, have you met my father’s friend, Joyce Parsons?”

  “Pleasure to meet you,” Hattie said and Joyce returned the greeting.

  “We need to have a nice long talk,” she said to Quilla. “But I’m too tired tonight. I’ll call you tomorrow. I think I’ll sleep in.” She glanced around again, as if to make sure she didn’t miss anything.

  “Do you see Tom over there?”

  Quilla nodded.

  “Some people have a lot of nerve.”

  “He probably thinks it would look odd if he didn’t attend. She worked for him.”

  “Hum. He looks a bit sad, don’t you think?”

  Quilla glanced at him again. He was studying a picture of Sadie someone had set on a small table by the door. She wondered what he really felt about Sadie.

  When Quilla glanced in her father’s direction, she saw Joyce feeding him another cracker. A dab of food spilled on his lip and he and Joyce laughed.

  He’s happy, Quilla thought. Truly happy.

  Wendy’s dining room was perfectly set with her next-to-best china and crystal. Not her best. Tom’s friends weren’t worth it. But the spread was magnificent. Wendy had seen to it. She’d worked later in the office than she’d planned and then she had gone by Randall’s school to pick up raffle tickets. Tom had arrived at work late and had left early without an explanation. Wendy had to break down and ask his secretary where he was. The woman either didn’t know or she kept his secrets, because she wouldn’t tell her. He was out of the office so much, Wendy wondered how he ever got any work done.

  The housekeeper had seen to the dinner arrangements. Wendy escaped upstairs and quickly showered and dressed for the party. She didn’t know why Tom insisted on hanging around with his sleazy friends. She couldn’t stand either one. Edward was always undressing her with his eyes. He was weird-looking and gave her the creeps. And Sidney was the last person she’d trust with her money.

  She put the finishing touch on her makeup and hair, glancing at the clock for the fiftieth time. Tom had badgered her into planning the dinner and he wasn’t even there yet. She certainly didn’t want to have to greet his friends alone. That was his job.

  Randall came upstairs.

  “Hi, honey,” she said and stopped when she saw how he was dressed.

  “Did something special happen today?” For a moment guilt touched her. He’d had a special day and she’d missed it.

  But there was a guilty look on his face. “No, why?”

  “You’re all dressed up.”

  “Oh, this.” He shrugged as if he wore sweats and continued to his room.

  Wendy knew the boy didn’t dress like that just to go to school. Not even to impress a girlfriend. What was going on with him?

  “Randall!”

  “I’m going out, that’s all. You don’t have to make a big deal out of it.”

  She was on her way to his room just as the doorbell rang. Tom still hadn’t arrived.

  Chapter 15

  Denton called Quilla several times that day. She knew she’d withheld the information about the diary from him as long as she dared, but she still believed it shouldn’t be in the government’s hands. After all, their case didn’t involve Sadie. But she’d gotten the diary when he let her into Sadie’s apartment and he deserved to know about it.

  “I have to talk to you about something when you get in,” she said.

  “About what?”

  “I can’t tell you on the phone.”

  He chuckled that deep masculine sound that held lots of erotic promises. “You’re going to whisper sweet nothings in my ear tonight?”

  “That, too.”

  He sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Can’t wait to get home.”

  “Don’t be late. You’ve worked late every day since the wake. I haven’t had any time with you.”

  “That’s the truth. You’re usually snoring by the time I get in.”

  Quilla wrapped her dignity around herself. “I don’t snore,” she said emphatically.

  “You do. I’ll see you tonight, sweetie.”

  Snoring indeed, Quilla thought. She didn’t, of course. And “sweetie”? She hung the phone up slowly. She was going to miss him when she moved back to her apartment and when he left for his next assignment. Every morning when she awakened, she was comfortably wrapped in his arms. Some mornings they made love before he dressed to leave.

  She moved in there with her eyes wide open. She knew wha
t they shared was only temporary. She would make the best of it while it lasted, she thought.

  “Irving, I’m going next door to talk to Melissa,” she said.

  “You’re always on the go. Let me check the corridor first.”

  Quilla smiled. Irving took his job seriously. In a sense she was going to miss him, too. They marched across the hall together, but Quilla entered the office alone.

  “Could I have a word with you?” she asked Melissa. Irving hung out in the hall while she went inside and closed the door.

  Melissa glanced nervously at her. “What do you want?”

  “I got the impression there was something you wanted to tell me about Sadie at the buffet. But with so many people around, you probably didn’t feel comfortable to speak freely.”

  Melissa shook her head vigorously. “I didn’t have anything more to offer.”

  “Are you sure? The killer is still out there. No one is safe until that person is caught.”

  Melissa bit her bottom lip.

  “I know she found out something she wasn’t supposed to. I don’t know what about. But she had more sense than to blackmail Tom. He gave her anything she wanted. She didn’t have to, right?”

  “What did she discover?”

  “Listen, you don’t cross Tom and get away with it. It can’t get back to him that I told you anything or my life will be in danger.”

  “I won’t tell him.”

  “She wouldn’t tell me what she discovered. I just know it was big.”

  These men were very proprietary about their women. How did Tom talk her into working here? Quilla considered for a moment before the answer came to her.

  “You’re having an affair with Tom, aren’t you?”

  Melissa jumped up from her chair and paced to the window. “It’s none of your business.”

  “Aren’t you Edward’s friend? Isn’t it going to present a problem if he finds out?”

  Melissa twisted a ring nervously on her finger. “Like I said, it’s none of your business.”

  “Maybe you should take off for a while until things calm down.”