Deadly Valentine

by Jenna Harte

  "The trip to DC went well?" he said breaking the silence.

  Looks like they were going to have to talk about it after all. "Yes."

  "Any new revelations?"

  Tess turned to study Daniel's face. Did he know about the Senator and Delia, and Jack's possible connection? "Are you asking me as a cop or a friend?"

  He shook his head in the way people do when they are tired of the same old song and dance. "Just asking."

  Tess opted not to say anything, which would safely keep her from revealing information she wasn't ready to reveal or lie. After a moment she asked. "I got a visit from Kate today."

  "Kate?"

  "Kate Wells. You know, the news journalist." And someone who's in love with you she thought to herself.

  "Right."

  "She told me about the autopsy."

  "How does she do that?" Daniel said with a quick look to Tess.

  "She's got mojo."

  "That damn Artie. Why we don't fire him…."

  "Did you know?" Tess asked.

  "About the cancer?"

  Tess nodded.

  "Are you asking me as a friend or a lawyer?"

  Ugh! Tess crossed her arms and turned her head to watch as the car made its way out of the city and into the county with its wooded rolling hills and large farm estates.

  "See this is why you shouldn't be his lawyer. We can't even talk as friends without worrying about tipping our hands."

  "So let's talk about something else."

  "Tess, I'm really worried about you."

  "We agreed we wouldn't talk about this."

  "He was the last one to see Asa alive-"

  "Except for the murderer," Tess shot back.

  "He had an argument with him."

  "So did Lauren. Everyone else just gave him the evil eye."

  Daniel let out a breath. "His story differs."

  "Only from two people. Two people who could be lying."

  "It's more likely that one person is lying."

  "No Daniel, it's more likely that they are all lying about something. I don't know what family you're looking at, but the Worthingtons are not all innocents. Has Johnson talked to the maid? Has he suggested to her that by covering up for Philip it leaves her without an alibi?"

  "Why would we think she was lying or that she needed an alibi?"

  Tess shot Daniel an exasperated look. After a moment she tried again. "Do you remember the Sloan case?"

  "The wife that was kidnapped and murdered?"

  "Right."

  "What about it?"

  "In that case nearly everyone in that family lied to the police at one point or another, including the gardener. And lie or not, you followed up on every statement that was given."

  "So?"

  "So. You went after that case hard, looking at everyone. But whether it's your family or that you don't like Jack, you and the rest of the police have developed a tunnel vision on this case."

  "Is that going to be your closing argument?" Daniel was an affable guy so it was surprising to see him actually start seething.

  "No. I won't need a closing argument because what you got on Jack amounts to nothing. Not when there are others that had more motive and the same opportunity."

  "The police aren't inept," Daniel said as they made their way up the long winding driveway to the Worthington home.

  Tess sighed. "I know that. But they're not robots. They can be biased."

  Daniel pulled the car into the circle and parked. He dropped one arm over the steering wheel as he turned to look at her. His eyes were hard, even a little dark. "And you're blinded by all the Valentine shine and polish. You're letting lust cloud your judgment and the facts."

  Tess wasn't sure why, but the comment hurt as much if he'd slapped her. She could feel the tears begin to pool in her eyes. She wanted to call him a jerk. She wanted to slap him. She wanted him to be wrong.

  Inside the house, Tess put as much distance between her and Daniel as she could. Fortunately, he seemed to have the same intention. Once Walter took her coat, she sought out Helen.

  "Tess, thank you for coming," Helen said giving her a hug.

  "It was a moving service," Tess said.

  "Some people think it was more than he deserved."

  "People are saying that?" Tess was shocked at the nerve.

  "It's easier to attack a vicious man when you know he can't retaliate. They just better not believe in ghosts. Did Daniel tell you? About his illness?"

  "I heard about it."

  "I made it my life's mission not to get caught up in the Worthington drama and because of my selfishness I wasn't there for him."

  "You can't feel guilty for not being there. There was no way to know that it would have been any different than all the other family gatherings." Tess put her arm around Helen.

  "I could have given in just once. He'd been so adamant about my being there. I told him if he could give me a good reason, I'd consider it. But he never said a word. Not about the cancer. Instead he gave me a guilt trip about family duty."

  "So you didn't know he was sick?"

  "No. I guess that was what he planned to announce." She shook her head and Tess could see the guilt etched on Helen's face.

  "Asa was his usual self-absorbed self," Tess said hoping to appease her friend's guilt. "You'd have been mad at him and probably would have left early. And I'd have given you a good excuse because I wasn't feeling well and wanted to leave myself."

  "Tess," Tom said as he stepped next to Helen. He leaned in and gave her small kiss on the cheek. "How are you doing, honey," he asked Helen.

  "I'm doing okay. Oh there's Tilly Watkins. I need to thank her for letting us hire her staff to help today," Helen said. "Excuse me for minute would you Tess?"

  "Yes, of course."

  "I understand you're representing Mr. Valentine?" Tom said as he watched his wife move across the room.

  "He retained my services." Tess was thankful for the opening. Perhaps she'd be able to find out what Tom had known about Asa's plans.

  "Smart move," Tom said. "And not bad for your practice."

  "Yes."

  "From what I've heard, the police are focusing on him."

  "The police are using a little too much wishful thinking," Tess said. Even as it came out of her mouth, she wished she'd held her tongue. Although Daniel wasn't on the case, he was associated with the police. Her best bet was to change the subject. "Did you know Asa was sick?"

  "No."

  When he didn't elaborate, Tess turned to him. Was he holding something back? Was he lying? She felt a pang of guilt at thinking he would lie to her. He'd been good to her since she was sixteen years old and Helen had brought her home for Thanksgiving. Some people thought Tess had gone into law because of her father who was a high powered corporate lawyer in San Francisco. Tess supposed that trying to earn her father's approval was part of her choice in careers. But Tom had to be given credit as well. Especially when she made her move from Washington DC to Jefferson Tavern. Tom had been a mentor to her in starting her own practice.

  But as she regarded him now, she had to wonder if it was possible that Asa kept secrets from Tom. With only a few months to live, Asa would have wanted to make plans for the company and his estate, and Tom would have been the man for the job. She supposed it was possible that Tom knew, but hadn't been allowed to tell Helen in which case he'd have to lie. Attorney-client privilege would prevent him from sharing with her. But the secret of Asa's illness wasn't as important as the secret about Delia Jackson.

  "Tom, have you ever heard of Delia Jackson?"

  She could have sworn she saw his face drop.

  "Can I get you something to drink, Ms. Madison?" Walter asked.

  "No, thank you," she said annoyed that the butler's interruption gave Tom time to regroup.

  "Mr. Showalter?"

  "No. Thank you, Walter."

  Tom watched as Walter walked away then turned back to Tess, his features impassive. "Who was i
t you were asking about?"

  "Delia Jackson."

  His brows pulled together. "I'm not sure. It could be a woman that used to work for the Senator. Why would you be asking about her?"

  Tess gave him credit for not lying, but not being completely truthful either. "Asa."

  "Asa? What about Asa?"

  Tess didn't want to tip her hand. Perhaps she could fudge the truth as well.

  "Along with investigations of Mr. Valentine, Asa was researching Delia Jackson."

  "How did you know that?" Tom lowered his voice as he leaned closer to Tess.

  "Asa isn't the only one who can get information about people."

  He looked nervously around the room. Tess wondered who he was worried would be overhearing their conversation. The Senator?

  "Do you know who she was?"

  "She was a secretary of the Senator's. She was killed in a house fire over 30 years ago."

  "Why would Asa be collecting information on her?"

  "Who the hell knows," Tom said looking like he could use a stiff drink. "Asa did what he wanted and information was given on a need to know basis."

  Was it possible that Tom didn't know about Jack's connection to Delia? She couldn't be sure Asa knew the full extent of it. But he'd suspected something. What Tess didn't know is what if anything it had to do with Asa's big announcement.

  Tess decided to leave the conversation about Delia and press on to what Asa had planned the night he was killed. "Do you know what Asa's big announcement was going to be?"

  Tom shrugged and turned away. "Probably that he was sick."

  Tess' liar radar buzzed. "You didn't know?" Tess knew her tone was accusatory. There was a lot that Asa probably didn't tell Tom, but she couldn't believe that he wouldn't have told his closest friend and lawyer about his impending death or future plans for the company and his estate.

  "No." Tom's stare bored into her, daring her to contradict him. To Tess it was another lie. But why?

  "I just don't get it, Tom. Asa was killed in a house full of people. It had to be related to his announcement. I can't imagine telling us he was dying was worth killing him over. It had to be something else."

  "This is beginning to feel a bit like an interrogation and this definitely isn't the time or place."

  She felt reprimanded and she deserved it. Whatever Asa was, Tom and Helen had cared for him and should be allowed to grieve that loss. "I'm sorry."

  "You two look like you're having quite a tête à tête," Helen said as she rejoined Tess and Tom.

  "Like everyone else that was there that night, we're comparing notes, trying to figure out what happened," Tom said casting a glance a Tess.

  "Yes," she agreed.

  "How amazingly brazen someone is. I was just thinking the murderer could be here, now," she said as she scanned the room. Tess had been wondering the same thing.

  She decided she was thirsty and she excused herself from Tom and Helen. There were too many people buzzing around the bar, so she headed to the kitchen.

  Agnes looked surprised to see her, but didn't send her away. Instead she offered Tess a cup of coffee, which she accepted.“I just need a moment away from the crowd,” Tess explained.

  “It's a sad day indeed,” Agnes said. “I suppose most people aren't too surprised. Still it's hard to believe a man like Mr. Worthington is gone. He seemed larger than life.”

  “Yes,” Tess agreed.

  “Frightful too,” Agnes continued as she busied herself with hors d'oeuvre trays. “To think it happened under our noses.”

  “It's hard to believe.”

  “Takes a lot of gall that's for sure.”

  “You have to wonder what was so important that he had to be killed like that...or at all I suppose.”

  “Of course I wouldn't know anything about that. Mr. Worthington liked to be very discreet about his business.”

  Tess had a war within herself. She really shouldn't question Agnes, but who better to ask about family ties than the help? When would she have another chance? She took a sip of coffee and then asked the pertinent question. “Agnes, did you know Delia Jackson?”

  "Now there's a name I haven't heard in a while."

  "You knew her?" Tess asked.

  "Yes." Agnes' face turned wistful. "Such a sweet girl. Naive, but very good-hearted. And a smile like no other. She could have gotten whatever she wanted with that smile if she'd learned how to use it."

  Like mother like son, Tess thought. Except Jack knew how to use his. "What happened to her?"

  "Such a tragedy. She had her whole life in front of her. She was killed in a fire. Her and her baby." Agnes shook her head."Such a loss."

  "What about her husband?" Tess asked taking a sip of her coffee.

  "She wasn't married," Agnes said with disapproval in her voice.

  "What about the baby's father?"

  Agnes gave a shrug and turned back to her dishes in the sink. "He was in the military, I think. The Senator tried to find him, but I don't know what happened. It's sad really. No one claimed her. She had a mother somewhere…"

  Tess held her coffee cup in both hands letting the warmth drive the chill from her fingers. She'd been operating under the assumption that the Senator was Jack's father, but maybe Agnes was right. Cora didn't strike Tess as being the most reliable source of information. It could be that in her grief and need to blame someone for Delia's death, she accused the Senator of setting the fire. But why did she believe that the Senator was Jack's father?

  Delia could have told Cora and the Senator lied to cover up his involvement. Or Agnes could be lying. The staff of important people usually knew the truth, but very rarely gave out truthful details. Perhaps Agnes was giving her the line the Senator had told them to give over 30 years ago.

  "Who has a mother somewhere?" asked Walter as he entered the kitchen carrying a tray of empty cups.

  "You remember Delia don't you Walter?" Agnes asked as she took the tray from him. "Walter's been here even longer than me," she said to Tess.

  "It's my wrinkles that give it away," he said with a grin. Turning to Tess he asked, "How is it that you're talking about Delia?"

  Tess shrugged not wanting to tip her hand. Fortunately Agnes responded. "Wasn't she a sweet girl?"

  He nodded. "Sweet as my mama's homegrown honey. But not very smart. If she'd moved back to the house like she was supposed to, she might still be with us today."

  Agnes nodded. "Stubborn. How was she going to raise that baby without a job?"

  "I thought you said she worked for the Senator?" Tess asked.

  "She did," Walter said. "Until she got it in her head to quit."

  "Did something happen?" Tess asked trying to sound nosy instead of like an interrogator.

  "Someone else would have fired her," Agnes said with a shake of a soapy wooden spoon. "But not the Senator. He said he'd keep her on even though it could reflect poorly on him."

  Walter nodded in agreement. Tess figured even in the late 1980's in the south, unmarried mothers carried a stigma. For a conservative, family values senator it could raise a few eyebrows.

  "He even made arrangements for her to stay here and have a nanny. Isn't that right Walter?"

  "That's right."

  Tess frowned. Nannies weren't cheap. It's unlikely Delia would be able to work enough to cover the cost of one. "That's very generous of him," Tess said.

  "The Senator's a good man," Walter said. "He knew she wasn't very worldly and that's why she got in trouble. So he did the decent thing, but she was too dumb to accept his help."

  "Don't talk ill of the dead," Agnes said as she made the sign of the cross. "I do hope that Delia and baby Brady were there to meet Asa in heaven."

  Walter snorted. "I'm sure Asa is nowhere near Delia and her baby."

  Agnes looked stricken. "You can't think he's … he's…there?" she said pointing her finger downward.

  Walter picked up the tray with a shrug.

  "He was a hard man and sometimes
unchristian, but he did so many good things for the community," Agnes said.

  "For his sake, I hope it was enough," Walter said making his way to the door. "But it sure is calmer around here now, dontcha think?"

  "Bite your tongue," Agnes snapped. "You shouldn't speak ill of the dead." As if to make sure she was safe, she grabbed the salt shaker and threw a dash over her shoulder, though most of it stuck to her wet fingers.

  Walther laughed. "I don't think he can make my life any worse now than he did when he was alive." Then he stepped out the door.

  "What did he mean by that?" Tess asked.

  Agnes waved his comment away. "Oh, it's just a little rivalry."

  "Rivalry?"

  "The Senator is like a father to Walter. And Walter just adores him, looks out for him. Asa would sometimes do things to remind Walter of his place. Not that Walter ever forgot his place, but … well…"

  Tess thought that kind of behavior could make someone mad, but could it make someone mad enough to kill? She gave her head a shake. The butler did it? Her lips twitched at the idea. Wouldn't that be something? And Agnes could be Ms. Marple. But as much as Walter disliked Asa, he cared for the senator more. It was doubtful that Walter would do anything to upset the Senator, especially killing his only son.

  Just then the door shot open. "I swear to God that man-"

  "Sarah!" Agnes snapped like a mother reprimanding a child.

  Sarah blinked in surprise and then noticed Tess. She bit her lip as she made her way, with a tray full of plates to Agnes.

  The two women stood at the sink with their backs to Tess. It was reminder of her place as well. Or at least where her place wasn't.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Tess wasn't able to get much work done when she returned to the office. She told herself it was because of the tension building between her and the Showalters. In one afternoon she'd upset Daniel and Tom. But she knew that was only a small part of her restlessness. Jack hadn't called, emailed or texted. It worried her. And if she was honest with herself, she also felt disappointed, which in turn caused her to feel guilty. Why would he be thinking of her when his life had just been turned upside down? She wanted to call him, to help him. But he'd been clear that he didn't want or need her.