Greed & Deadly Deceit

by Ruby Blaylock

  Mama, I’m going to go put a wash on, she said finally, nodding towards the laundry basket in her arms. I can help you with dinner afterward, if you want, but I also need to clean the guests’ bathrooms and reorganize the library.

  The library? Bessie asked, one eyebrow shooting up questionably. Let me guess, Joshua figured out how to get in there?

  Annie nodded and let out a tired sigh. He’s remarkably bright for a preschooler. We didn’t notice that room for weeks when we moved in. The tiny library was one of several ‘hidden’ rooms built into Rosewood Place. It had likely been an office originally, but now it housed books and DVDs that Annie loaned to guests.

  She’d made a point of not telling Melody about the room until Joshua was out of earshot, but he must have seen his mother going in for a book at some point. Now, all the books within the small child’s reach were in complete disarray and would need to be reorganized.

  Bessie laughed out loud. You can’t really be mad at him. After all, I’ve been thinking that those shelves could do with a good dusting, she added.

  Annie admired her mother’s optimism, and she only briefly considered the fact that her mother should have dusted the shelves herself if she’d been so interested in them. With a sigh, she hefted the laundry basket higher on her hip and left her mother stirring the green beans.

  A few minutes later and one laundry basket lighter, Annie emerged from the laundry room and made her way back to the front of the house. She’d decided to tackle the library first--scrubbing toilets wasn’t her favorite chore--so she headed to the sitting room where the little library existed.

  A figure stood by one of the large windows facing north. The sun was quite strong in this room early in the day, so it was difficult for Annie to tell who exactly stood in the sunlight, but whoever it was, he was definitely a male.

  Mr. Michaels? The blonde hair ruled out Rory or Devon, but her guess still wasn’t correct. The figure by the window turned to reveal its face, and although she didn’t recognize him, the man still seemed somehow familiar to her.

  I’m sorry, ma’am, I hope I didn’t startle you. The stranger stepped away from the window and his face came into plain sight. My name is Robert LaRue, though most folks call me Bobby.

  Her expression must have given her emotions away because he rushed to explain further. "My uncle lives--lived--on the property behind you. I understand that you knew him? Frances LaRue, the man who died in the

  neighboring house over yonder?"

  Annie felt her stomach do a sick little flip. She had no idea why any of Mr. LaRue’s living relatives would want to speak to her, but her gut said that it couldn’t be good.

  12

  Melody Has a Visitor

  Bobby LaRue peered at her with icy blue eyes. He wasn’t what she’d call ‘classically handsome,’ but he was good-looking in a rugged, country-boy way. He reminded her very much of someone, but she couldn’t pinpoint who exactly. He didn’t look anything like Frances LaRue, except for maybe the same hawk-like nose. That must be a family trait, she mused.

  Oh, Mr. LaRue, I’m so sorry for your loss. She realized that her sentiment probably sounded very lame, but she didn’t know what else to say. Was he here to accuse her of murdering his uncle, or maybe he’d somehow heard that Devon’s jacket had found its way into the man’s home? Her stomach tensed as she braced herself for an ugly confrontation with the stranger before her.

  His reaction was both a relief and a bit baffling. Oh, thank you for your sympathy, but I should be apologizing to you. My uncle was an awful man, stubborn as heck, and I’m sure he couldn’t have been all that much fun to have as a neighbor.

  He extended his hand for a handshake. I guess I should have clarified that I didn’t really come here to talk about him, he explained.

  Annie shook his hand politely. Oh, well then, how can I help you?

  Bobby’s face tensed slightly. I was hoping to speak to one of your guests if they’re still here. He straightened his back and cleared his throat. I was hoping to speak to Melody Wallace. I understand that she and a little boy are staying here with you.

  Annie hesitated. It wouldn’t be very professional or responsible for her to give out information about her guests, especially to random strangers who claimed to be related to her dead neighbor.

  I, uh, I’m awfully sorry, Mr. LaRue, but I’m not at liberty to discuss who is or isn’t staying with me. There are privacy laws that prevent me from doing things like that, she explained.

  He didn’t say anything for a moment, then he nodded. I’m pretty sure that is her car parked outside, but I get what you’re saying. Would you mind telling her that I’m here? That is if she is a guest here.

  He smiled awkwardly. I, uh, don’t want to get you in any trouble, but she spoke to me the other day and mentioned this place. It was all I had to go on in terms of finding her, and I’m afraid I lost her telephone number when I had to replace my phone. I dropped the darned thing in a sinkful of dirty dishwater and it died, taking all my contacts with it, he explained.

  Mr. LaRue, you seem like a very nice man, but…

  Please, he continued, cutting her off mid-sentence. I really do need to speak with her. He looked around the room, desperation creeping onto his face. I can rent a room if you like. I mean, if you can’t help me because I’m not a paying guest, I can rent a room.

  Annie took a deep breath. That won’t be necessary. If you don’t mind waiting here, I’ll see what I can do.

  Bobby relaxed noticeably. Thank you, thank you very much. He rubbed his hands together anxiously and seemed unsure of what to do with himself.

  Why don’t you sit down for a bit and I’ll have my mother bring you something to drink. Would you like coffee or tea? We’ve got hot and iced, she added.

  Oh, uh, coffee would be great, he replied, dropping down into the chair next to where he’d just been standing.

  Annie left the room and found her mother in the parlour outside the sitting room. Mama, we have a visitor, she said quietly.

  I heard, Bessie nodded, her face lined with concern. Another LaRue’s come knocking--that can’t be good.

  Annie pulled her mother away from the sitting room. Can you please fix Mr. LaRue some coffee and reserve your judgments until after we hear what he has to say? He didn’t seem to think too highly of his uncle, so maybe that means he’s a decent guy. She hoped sincerely that this was true, but decided to reserve judgment either way until she found out exactly why he wanted to speak with Melody.

  Bessie made a noise that sounded like ‘harumph’ and squared her shoulders. "Well, of course, I’ll reserve my judgments, but I don’t like this fella turning up out of the blue like this. Especially when he’s asking to see one of

  our private guests." She turned and ambled into the kitchen, leaving Annie by herself.

  Annie wondered whether Bobby LaRue’s presence at the inn had anything to do with the father of Melody’s child, but she reminded herself not to jump to any conclusions. If her mother was right, Melody had lived here in Coopersville, or at least worked there, for at least a few months. Perhaps she had another reason to know Frances LaRue’s nephew during that time.

  Annie didn’t have to go all the way upstairs to find Melody. The woman was making her way down the stairs, thankfully without Joshua in tow, and Annie stopped her quietly on the landing.

  Miss Wallace, Melody, I’m sorry to bother you, but there’s a man here to see you. He says his name is Bobby LaRue and he says that you told him you’d be staying here. I didn’t want to confirm or deny this since that’s a privacy issue, she added quickly, but he seems very keen to speak to you.

  Melody’s reaction surprised Annie. First, she smiled. Then, she looked worried. Oh, I’ve left Joshua sleeping in our room, she explained. I don’t want him to be afraid if he wakes up and I’m not there. I was just going to come down and get something to drink really quickly.

  Annie could tell that Melody was torn between being in two places at on
ce. I can keep an ear out for him if you like. I need to clean the upstairs bathrooms anyway, so I can just open your door a crack and listen out for him.

  Melody’s face relaxed. Oh, if it’s not trouble--

  None at all, Annie lied. Please, let my mother or me know if you or your visitor need anything.

  Melody thanked Annie and disappeared down the stairs. Annie hoped that Melody’s visit would be a positive one. She also hoped that little Joshua was a heavy sleeper, but she wasn’t willing to take any chances. Instead of cleaning the bathrooms upstairs, she pulled a chair up outside of Melody’s room and grabbed her phone. She’d just pass the time playing solitaire and surfing social media instead and hope that she was right about Bobby LaRue being nothing like his dead uncle.

  Annie listened out for Joshua, but she also strained to hear anything that might be happening downstairs. She realized with some shock that she’d become quite nosy since she’d opened Rosewood Place. Feeling only slightly ashamed, she rose from her chair and crept over to the top of the stairs. She could just make out her mother’s singsong voice, the one she reserved for handsome male guests, but she couldn’t tell what she was saying.

  Annie leaned over the bannister, hoping to hear something. She was startled and nearly fell when she felt a hand wrap around her arm.

  Steady, now. Wouldn’t want you to fall down those stairs. It’d hardly be worth a broken bone just to eavesdrop in your own house. Bo Michaels grinned at Annie, who was blushing furiously now.

  I was just listening out to see if my mother needed any help, Annie lied.

  And what are you doing hanging out in hallways? he asked, pointing to the wooden chair and her abandoned cell phone.

  Annie pushed her hair back behind her ears. Well, actually I’m supposed to be listening out for--

  For this little guy? Bo stepped aside and revealed a grinning Joshua.

  I woked up, he said gleefully. We gonna go fishing?

  Bo laughed. "Somebody came to my room when he woke up, Bo explained. I guess he snuck past his ‘guard’ and came for a visit. I told him we’d go find his mom and maybe get him a snack since he says he’s hungry."

  I’m starving to death, Joshua assured them both dramatically.

  Annie couldn’t believe the little boy had slipped out of his room and down the hall so quietly. Poor Melody must really have her hands full with this one, she noted.

  Uh, actually his mom has a visitor, but I don’t think she’d mind if we got him a snack before we let her know he’s up. I think my mother has some fresh cookies in the kitchen. Would you like some of those and a glass of milk? Annie hadn’t even finished asking and Joshua was off, heading down the stairs and dragging Bo with him.

  I guess that’s a yes, Bo laughed.

  The three of them proceeded to the kitchen, where Annie sat the boy at the table and watched him gleefully gobble up four chocolate chip cookies and two glasses of milk.

  You really were starving, Annie said, wiping milk from the little boy’s chin and the table where it had spilled a little.

  Can we go see the doggie? Joshua swung his feet off the side of the chair, kicking them in time to some

  childish rhythm only he could hear. Can I give him a cookie?

  Annie shook her head. Sorry, kiddo, but I need to let your mom know that you’re awake. And cookies aren’t good for dogs, she added, just in case the boy had other ideas.

  Would you mind keeping an eye on him while I go and let her know? Annie didn’t usually make a habit out of asking her guests to babysit for each other, but Bo seemed not to mind.

  Not a problem. Us men will just wait out here in the kitchen and swap war stories, he teased.

  Annie scurried to the sitting room, expecting to find Melody and Bobby alone. Instead, she found her mother still with them, swapping stories about shared acquaintances in Coopersville.

  And did they shut the old burger place down on Main Street? Bobby asked. The one owned by the Douglas family?

  Oh, lordy, yes! Why, it burned to the ground about four or five years ago. Everyone thought it was an accident, but the police determined that it was actually arson. Now, I’m not saying that I think Mr. Douglas did it, but he sure took that insurance money and moved his family out of town pretty quickly after it happened, mind you!

  Annie cleared her throat to interrupt her mother’s story. Mama, have you been in here this whole time? Don’t you think Melody might want to spend some time alone with her visitor? She shot her mother a look that was meant to show her disapproval, but Bessie ignored it.

  Did Joshua wake up? Melody rose from her chair. Annie got the distinct feeling that the woman wasn’t too sure about her guest’s visit.

  He did. I hope you don’t mind, but I gave him a snack in the kitchen. He told me he was starving to death, so I had to oblige, she added with a laugh. He’s in the kitchen with Mr. Michaels now. I can bring him in here, if you like.

  Melody hesitated. Well, I, uh, I guess that would be okay.

  Annie couldn’t help but feel the sudden tension in the air between Melody and Bobby. He seemed as nervous as she was. Annie could see the smooth patches on the legs of his jeans and she watched as he rubbed his palms against them again, most certainly in a nervous habit.

  Does he know? he whispered to Melody, his face paling somewhat.

  No, she replied quietly, "I haven’t told him.

  Annie and Bessie both felt suddenly out of place, and the two women hurried out of the room to fetch the boy.

  What do you think that was all about? Annie asked. Weird, huh?

  Bessie clucked her tongue and rolled her eyes. Oh, for goodness sake! It’s obvious, isn’t it? Look at that little boy of Melody’s and then look at Bobby LaRue. Spitting image of one another, aren’t they?

  Annie stopped walking. Oh, she said abruptly. She did see the resemblance, now that her mother mentioned it. Oh, well, then… Lost for words, Annie continued to the kitchen to retrieve Joshua and take him to what she suddenly suspected were both of his parents.

  13

  Reunion

  Melody seemed in no hurry to be alone with her visitor, which Annie thought was a little odd, but understandable. After all, Melody had told Annie that Joshua’s father had only recently learned of his existence and hadn’t reacted as positively as she’d hoped.

  Bobby was introduced to Joshua as ‘a friend’ of Melody’s, and the boy didn’t waste time in asking him lots of questions, mostly about the man’s cowboy boots and shiny smartphone. When Bobby revealed that he didn’t have any games on the phone or any actual horses to go with the boots, Joshua lost interest and busied himself with looking for the latch to the library door.

  Why don’t we go in there and tidy up some books, eh, Joshua? Bessie helped the boy open the door and the two of them disappeared into the tiny room.

  If you don’t mind, ma’am, I would like to use your restroom. Where might I find it?

  Annie directed Bobby to the bathroom and watched him leave the sitting room in a nervous hurry. She couldn’t blame him for being a bundle of nerves--it must have been quite something for the man to see his child for the first time.

  I guess you’re wondering about him, Melody said quietly, pushing a strand of blonde hair behind one ear. He’s the man I was talking about, Joshua’s father. I met him when I was working as a home health aide. I was supposed to be an aide for his uncle, the gentleman that died on the property next to y’all, but Bobby’s uncle refused to let me come in the house. He actually fired a shotgun at me and Bobby for trying to help him, so needless to say I left that job for someone else to tackle.

  Annie smiled gently. She’d had no idea that Frances LaRue even had family members who cared about him. Since she certainly hadn’t seen Bobby around since she’d moved into Rosewood Place, she could only assume that he’d given up on trying to help his uncle out.

  Mr. LaRue was a pretty difficult man to get along with, she agreed. So you met Bobby then and began a relations
hip?

  Melody blushed. Actually, it was more like a fling. I think we were both just lonely and needed somebody. Bobby had just come out of a bad relationship and I really had nobody special in my life. He was sweet and I was available. It only lasted a few weeks, and it ended amicably enough, but I needed a change. I transferred to a different home health company out of town and moved away. I didn’t even know I was pregnant until I had already moved, she added.

  Why didn’t you tell him back then? I mean, wouldn’t it have made things easier for you? Being a single parent is so hard, and I know this from experience, Annie reminded her. What if you had stayed together?

  Melody pursed her lips and shook her head. No, I don’t think it would have. See, Bobby can be really sweet and funny, but he’s got his demons. His ex had accused him of beating her up, though he never laid a finger on me. But, I grew up in a household where that sort of thing went on, you know, my mama let her boyfriend slap her around. I knew I’d be better off on my own with a baby than risking getting involved with someone who might be violent.

  Annie had to give Melody credit--that was not an easy choice to make. Why tell him now?

  Melody hesitated. Oh, I’m sorry, Melody, that’s really none of my business. I shouldn’t be so nosy, Annie apologized.

  Oh, no, it’s okay. You’ve been so kind to me and Joshua, and your mother has, too. Shoot, y’all have practically been like family these past few days. The truth is, I need financial help from Joshua’s father. I had some savings thanks to my job, but that’s almost gone now and my type of work really doesn’t pay well enough to support a family. I also think Joshua needs a man in his life, somebody to teach him how to do boy things, you know.

  Annie could understand how Melody felt. After her own husband had died, she had wondered how she would support her own little family with no job and no place to live. Buying Rosewood Place had been more than just an investment in a business, it had been the gamble of a lifetime. Thankfully, it seemed to be paying off.