Murder of a Real Bad Boy

by Denise Swanson

  Skye looked at Vince and asked, “Now?”

  “As soon as we leave.” Vince got up, took Loretta’s hand, and tugged her to her feet. “We’ve got to go. Bye, everyone.” When Skye heard the front door close, she turned to her parents and said, “Now for some good news.” May’s gaze immediately shot to Skye’s left hand.

  “Not about me, about Vince.”

  “What?” May demanded. “If it’s good news, why didn’t he tell us himself before he left?” Skye crossed her fingers, hoping her parents would understand that what she was telling them was a positive.

  “Vince wanted me to tell you that he’s dating Loretta.” She waited for a reaction. When none came, she added, “It looks pretty serious.” Still no comment from her folks. Finally, she asked, “Are you two okay with that?”

  “Well, we’ve never had one of those people in the family before.” May frowned. “But she seems real nice.” Skye counted to ten. She had been hoping Loretta’s race wouldn’t be an issue.

  Before Skye could figure out what to say, May continued.

  “Of course, I suppose not all lawyers are evil, bloodsucking leeches.”

  “No.” Skye grinned. “Not all of them.”

  “And considering Vince’s usual taste, the possibility of a serious relationship with a non-bimbo is a step in the right direction for him.” May looked at Jed, who dipped his head in agreement. “Do you know if she wants children?”

  “I’m sure she does.” Skye crossed her fingers again. Having a baby was not a subject she had ever discussed with her friend, but she’d worry about that if her brother and Loretta lasted as a couple for more than a month.

  Later on, May got Skye aside and said, “Are you still mad at me for locking you in with Simon?”

  “Yes. And if you do anything like that again, I swear I truly will move.”

  “I’m sorry.” May looked down. “I really thought he was the one for you. I was afraid you were throwing away your chance at happiness.”

  “I know, Mom. For a while I thought he was the one, too.”

  “But he isn’t?”

  “It doesn’t look that way.”

  May nodded sadly.

  Skye was silent for a moment, then said, “Hey, one thing.

  How did you and Bunny ever work together to pull off getting Simon and me locked in the basement?”

  “I just gritted my teeth and was nice to her.” May hugged Skye. “You know I’d do anything for you.” Skye hugged her mom back. “I know, Mom. But I can handle anything that life throws at me. I may not be able to handle it well, or gracefully, or the way you think I should, but I will handle it.”

  “How was the party?” Wally asked from his usual spot on the sunroom settee.

  “Good. The kids all seemed to have fun.” Skye put a plate of leftover sub sandwiches, relishes, and chips on the table in front of him. “Though I was a bit worried when Xenia found an Ouija set. Luckily, before any spirits could respond to her summons the old board crumbled into a thousand pieces, and they had to give up.”

  “Good. That girl doesn’t need any more power than she already has.” Wally patted the cushion next to him, silently inviting Skye to sit down. “Did you answer everyone’s questions?”

  “Pretty much.” Skye took a seat in the chair, ignoring Wally’s invitation. Tonight she wouldn’t let him distract her with his kisses. “You know, there are some answers I don’t have, and some that aren’t mine to share.”

  “You never did figure out what Jess Larson was being blackmailed about?”

  “No, and I didn’t try. He’s been open with me on several occasions and his secret is none of my business.” Skye popped an olive into her mouth.

  Wally nodded. “Priscilla’s secret is safe, too. Since Jeffreys confessed to Hamilton’s murder, there’s no need to investigate her further.”

  “Was that fingerprint they found on the boat Neville’s?”

  “Yes. He’s never been arrested before, so we had nothing to match it to until he was processed after trying to kill you and Alana.”

  “That’s good. It’s always handy to have a piece of physical evidence.”

  “You never did tell me how you got Bingo back.” Wally reached down and stroked the feline in question, who was rubbing against his legs and purring.

  Skye bit her lip. She still hadn’t decided what to tell Wally about Bingo’s reappearance. Would her actions in rescuing the cat ruin their budding relationship? Finally she told him the whole story, ending with, “I couldn’t leave him there another day without food and water.” If she and Wally were going to be together, he had to be able to accept her as she was.

  He nodded slowly. “I see your point.” When he didn’t comment further, Skye breathed a sigh of relief and changed the subject. “I’m glad Raette Craughwell came forward and told you that Beau was Xenia’s father, and that he had given her the painting to sell for his daughter’s education.”

  “Me, too. Because I know I would have never gotten the information from you.”

  Skye ignored his jibe and went on, almost talking to herself. “I’ve been consulting with Raette quite a bit this week.

  I finally convinced her to talk to Xenia about Beau — both his life and his death.” Skye’s voice thickened. “As I suspected, Xenia had figured out Beau was her father, which is why she wanted to move to Scumble River. Once she was here, Xenia followed Beau around, even managed to ‘bump’

  into him a few times, but never told him who she was.” Wally said, “That’s what Raette told me, too.”

  “Did she tell you she finally contacted him, and told him she and his daughter were in town?” When Wally nodded, Skye went on, “At first he turned his back on the situation, but finally he came around, which is when he gave Raette the painting and told her to sell it and use the money for his daughter. But before they could set up a meeting between Beau and Xenia, he was killed. After his death, Xenia became even more angry and hostile.”

  “Sounds like they’ll need to use a good chunk of that money for therapy for the girl,” Wally commented.

  “I sure hope they do.” Skye brushed a tear away. “It’s so sad that Beau never got the chance to change. He might have become a better man. It seemed like he was going to step up and be a father to Xenia. Granted, giving her dirty money wasn’t the best way, but it was a move in the right direction.

  Neville stole that chance from both of them.”

  “Jeffreys might be glad he’s going to prison. Xenia’s re-venge might be worse than jail time.” Wally took a swig of beer before asking, “After everything you’ve been through, are you sure you want to let Raette keep the money from the painting?”

  Skye thought about her decision, then said, “Yes. The painting was never mine to begin with. Who knows what Mrs. Griggs would have done if she knew it was so valuable.

  She probably would have left it to a museum or something.”

  “But that’s not your real reason.” Wally leaned toward her and took her chin in his hand.

  “No.” She looked into his warm brown eyes and risked exposing her inner self to him. “The truth is, I like to think of this as Beau’s chance for redemption, and Xenia’s chance to recover from her father abandoning her. I hope Xenia will see the money from the painting as an expression of his love and forgive him, which will free her from the world of ha-tred she’s been living in.”

  Wally kissed her gently on the lips. “Do you really think you can make things right — make sure people get what they deserve?”

  “Sometimes.”

  Wally tried to take her in his arms, but Skye scooted back in her chair. “Hey, I have a question for you. How did you know all my favorite foods and all that other stuff about me?”

  “I’ve worked with your mother for ten years.” Wally stood up and took Skye’s hands in his, drawing her up beside him. “I’ve listened when she talks about you. Doesn’t that prove I know you well enough for us to get involved?”

 
“But I don’t know those kinds of details about you.” Skye took a step away from him. “We need to take it slow until I do.”

  “How can you ignore the physical attraction between us?” Wally moved behind her, rubbing her shoulders.

  Skye gulped, then said in a breathy voice, “Regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades, and there had better be something to take its place. I don’t want to rush into things.”

  “You can’t rush into love.” Wally kissed her neck. “It’s either there or it isn’t.”

  Skye felt herself melting, but tried again to put the brakes on. “I just don’t know. I don’t want to be hurt again.” Wally turned her around and put his arms around her, leaning his forehead against hers. “Life may not always turn out the way we want it to, but we might as well grab for the good times that are offered.”

  Skye looked past him to a book lying on the coffee table.

  It was a rare edition of Little Women signed by the illustra-tor, and had been delivered that morning. The card contained a single word: “Sorry.” There hadn’t been a signature, but she recognized the handwriting.