Sweet Vengeance

by Fern Michaels

  “I think most mothers feel that way. Mine devoted her life to me; you know, I was an only child. My parents were older when they had me, but I was their world. When they died while I was in college, it totally brought me to my knees. They were the best. So I do understand the girls being top priority in your life.”

  “I didn’t know, Sam. I am so sorry.”

  “There was no need for you to know.”

  She shrugged, not sure if that was the case. As the wife of the owner of Jamison Pharmaceuticals, she should have made it her business to at least get to know the company CEO and others who held high positions in the company.

  “How well did you know Joel? In college, I mean? He said you were best friends, but I never really questioned his past.”

  Sam chewed on his bottom lip and took a sip of coffee. “We were dorm mates, but I wouldn’t say we were best friends. I was older by three years. When my parents died, I wasn’t sure what to do with my life, so I stayed in school, lived in the dorm, even though my parents left their entire, quite substantial, estate to me. I didn’t want to be alone. Joel was . . . quiet. Studied hard, wanted to go to work for his father. He was odd in some ways, and he had always had a bit of a temper.”

  “What do you mean by odd?”

  “This is just my opinion, Tess. I roomed with him, and we were young. He would bring girls to the dorm, and he didn’t have to, either. He was well funded, so he could have lived in an apartment. But he liked bringing girls to the dorm. I think a lot of them were much younger than he was. He would always try to impress them, and when they didn’t appear impressed with his life, his cars, his bank account, all of his material possessions, he dumped them. And I do not mean that he just never asked them out again. No, he told them to get out. He threw them out. A few times I saw him smack a girl around.”

  Tessa didn’t know what she had expected from Sam, but whatever it was, it certainly was not this.

  “You’re saying he was violent?”

  “He could be when things didn’t go his way,” Sam said. “Was he ever violent with you or the girls?”

  Tessa shook her head. “No, not physically. He was good at tossing crude comments here and there, but nothing that truly offended me other than the starving Ethiopian comment. After his father died, he said he had a lot of responsibilities. I thought he needed to vent, and being his wife, I was the recipient of his occasional ranting.”

  “Why do I feel like there is more? What are you not telling me, Tess?”

  Chapter 25

  “Ikeep thinking what Rosa said about seeing Joel running from the house. And that other man she said looked like him. I know it’s not possible, but did he ever mention anything to you about . . . having a twin?” There. She had said it.

  Sam seemed to give serious consideration to her question. “I think he would have told me if he had. That’s a major detail to leave out when you’re sharing a dorm room. Are you telling me that you believe there is some merit to what Rosa’s been telling us?”

  “I don’t think so, but it certainly seems odd. When I found Joel, and the girls, I was hysterical, I know that now. But I remembered thinking that the body in the pool wasn’t Joel’s. To be sure, the face was unidentifiable, and I am trained in the pharmaceutical field and have some medical knowledge. The case against me said that I killed my family two days before, on Friday. Decomposition, the water, I have taken all this into consideration. I have gone over that day a million times, and every time I come to the conclusion there was something odd about . . . the body. Something just did not seem right.”

  “In what way, other than the obvious?”

  “Joel was tanned, a golden color, you know how he swam, always seemed to have the perfect tan people strive for?”

  “Yes, he did like to swim and get in his daily dose of sun,” Sam agreed.

  “The body in the pool was pale, the skin looked like it hadn’t seen the sun in . . . forever. Is it possible that . . . hell, I probably sound like a crazy woman myself. Look, forget this. I need to get a shower, get ready to meet Lee.”

  “We can discuss this later, Tess. We need to,” Sam told her.

  She nodded, rinsed out her coffee cup, then headed down the hall to the bathroom. She showered, then found a pretty floral dress with the matching beige ankle boots Darlene had mentioned. She slipped the boots on, and while the top part of her ankle monitor was exposed, the bulky part slid into the leather easily and was not too tight or uncomfortable. She returned to the bathroom, where she used some of the cosmetics Darlene had picked out.

  Tessa looked at her image and did not like what she saw. Her skin was too pale, and there were too many wrinkles where they shouldn’t be. Her hair was too long, and mostly silver instead of the honey blond of her past. She used the light foundation that matched her skin perfectly. Amazed at what a difference it made, she used the peach blush to add color to her face.

  “Not bad for a convicted murderer just out of prison,” she said out loud, knowing the words were for her ears alone. She used a taupe-colored eye shadow, then added a soft brown liner to her top lids. Deep black mascara on her top and bottom lashes caused her to gasp when she looked in the mirror. A tube of lipstick in the shade sunny completed her face makeup. Had she not known herself, she wouldn’t have recognized the image staring back at her. Seeing what an improvement the makeup gave her, she twisted her long hair into a topknot and secured it with bobby pins. She almost could imagine the woman she used to be, of course, minus the wrinkles and silver hair. Smacking her lips together to set her lipstick, she returned to her room to get the small clutch purse that, of course, the ever-thoughtful Darlene had provided. Tessa couldn’t wait to meet this kind, caring woman. She would see to it that she was financially taken care of in a very big way. Her grandsons would be provided with an Ivy League education; she would discuss the details with Sam later. At least she could use Joel’s fortune, her fortune now, in a positive way.

  She went to the kitchen, which was the most popular room in the house, and peered out the window while she brewed her third cup of coffee. There were two local news media vans parked behind the gates, but the big networks had obviously found another story to report on.

  “Wow,” Sam whispered when he entered the kitchen.

  Tessa stepped away from the window, looked at Sam, and smiled. “Wow yourself.” And she meant it. He wore a suit better than any man she had ever known, including Joel. Sam was broad-shouldered where Joel was lean and lanky. Sam was also taller than Joel.

  “You look beautiful, Tess.”

  “It is an improvement. I saw that myself. Darlene thought of everything. I want to thank her. Sam, is there a way for me to set up an education fund for her grandsons? A lifetime income for her as well? I want to use all those millions for something good, at least while I can.”

  He laughed, and his entire face changed. The word handsome did not do him justice. “I think that can be arranged, though it’s quite a big price tag for someone who just made sure you had all those girly things you needed.”

  “No, it’s more than that. For the first time since the trial, I feel like a real person instead of a convicted murderer. It’s not always the big things that matter, at least to me. I want to show my gratitude.”

  “Normally, I would ask Darlene to get the ball rolling, but I’ll take care of this myself. Now, if you’re ready, we can head over to Lee’s office. I have already taken the liberty of contacting those who need to know that you’re traveling to your attorney’s office today.”

  She had almost forgotten about that. “I didn’t even think about it. Thanks for covering my rear.” Her face reddened, and Sam laughed.

  “No worries, Tess. I’ve got you covered.”

  “How many times can I thank you? Now, I have another question: How are we going to get out of here with the media following us?”

  “A member of your security is waiting in the garage now. He’s been there for a while.”

  �
�Maybe that’s the noise I heard this morning. I was sleeping soundly, then something woke me up.”

  “You didn’t tell me that earlier.”

  “I’m used to noise at night. The prison was at its worst then. I probably thought I was back there and imagined I heard something,” she insisted.

  “Okay then, if you’re ready, let’s get out of here,” Sam suggested. She went out the kitchen door that led to the garage, just as she had always done when she had lived here with her family, and saw a black Mercedes parked in the garage with a man in the driver’s seat.

  Five minutes later, they were speeding out of the gates, the members of the press apparently too interested in their early-morning coffee to pay them much notice.

  “Dave, this is Tessa Jamison. Dave is a retired Secret Service agent.”

  “Good to meet you, ma’am,” Dave said in a pleasant voice.

  “Nice to meet you, too, and I appreciate you getting up so early to take us to Lee’s office.”

  “My pleasure, ma’am.”

  She wanted to tell him he didn’t have to refer to her as “ma’am,” but given his former profession, she guessed it was a lifelong habit.

  Once they had disembarked from the ferry and were on the mainland, it was a straight shot to the courthouse, the sheriff’s department, the police department, and the federal courthouse.

  “Where is Lee’s office? I never even thought to ask,” she said, as Dave weaved in and out of several side streets before parallel parking in front of a high-rise condo that overlooked the Caloosahatchee River. Prime real estate, she knew.

  “In the penthouse,” Sam said. “He owns the building.”

  She raised her brows. Lee was obviously a very good attorney; at least he’d achieved financial success. Inside, the foyer was plush, decorated in a Florida motif, pale greens and blues with light oak walls. Giant plants, all native to Florida, were placed strategically throughout the room, giving the area old Key West vibes.

  She followed Sam to a private elevator. “Is this Lee’s very own Trump Tower?” she asked, as they took the elevator up to the penthouse.

  “I don’t think he’d compare himself to Trump, but he does well for himself. And he has been very generous with his own money, having become very involved in funding cancer research. Just about devoted his life to it.”

  Tessa considered that quite a noble undertaking but kept her thoughts to herself as the elevator doors swished open, not giving her the chance to speak her mind even if she had wanted to.

  Suddenly, she realized she was about to confront the mother of the man who’d wiped out her family. Her hands began to shake, and she felt sick to her stomach. She reached for Sam’s arm. “Is there a ladies’ room?”

  “This way.” He took her hand and led her down a short hallway. “In here.”

  She nodded, ran inside, and found an open stall. Entering the stall, she proceeded to empty herself of the morning’s coffee. Before getting up to use the sink, she took several deep breaths, hoping to overcome the waves of nausea that had sent her into the bathroom in the first place. Using a piece of toilet tissue to blot her mouth, she waited until she felt stable enough before standing up and going to the sink. She should have stayed behind, she thought, and let Lee and Sam deal with Rachelle. But, no, she reminded herself, she had decided that she had to do this for Piper, Poppy, and Joel. At the sink, she took a paper towel and ran it under cold water, blotting her face and neck. She had read somewhere that placing a cool cloth on one’s neck and wrists could stave off nausea.

  She turned on the tap and let the cool water splash against her wrists. She rinsed her mouth out, wishing she had a mint or a piece of gum. She wasn’t sure how long she had already been in the ladies’ room, but she took a few extra seconds and reapplied her lipstick.

  She was good at hiding things. No way did she want Rachelle to think she was frightened of her. When she stepped out of the ladies’ room, she found the ever-faithful Sam still waiting. The man was really a gem.

  “I was about to come in after you. Are you all right?”

  She nodded. “Just a bout of nerves, I’m fine now.”

  “Lee’s waiting with Rachelle. And Cal brought Rosa in, too, so we’re all where we need to be. Are you sure you’re all right?”

  Tessa stopped and faced him. “Do I look all right? I mean, do I seem . . . nervous? I don’t want that evil woman to think she’s intimidating me.”

  “You look great, Tess, and I’d be nervous, too. You’ll be fine. Remember, I’m here with you, and Lee is on your side.” Sam held her close to him. Tessa thought she could stay in his arms forever, but she knew that was crazy. She had the sudden realization that she was attracted to Sam! Of all the times to have this . . . epiphany, now was not the time. In fact, it would never be the right time.

  He eased her out of his arms. “Come on,” he said softly. “They’re waiting for us.”

  She nodded and let him guide her to Lee’s office. He tapped on the door, a beautiful dark wood double door with elaborate carvings up and down its frame. When Tessa stepped into his office, it stunned her. A billiard table in the same dark wood as the door was in the center of the room. On the other side of the table was a wet bar, which was really a small kitchen. To her left was a giant desk, again, made of the same dark wood as the door and the billiard table. Surrounding the desk were half a dozen upholstered chairs constructed of the same wood, with cream-colored cloth that looked to be actual velvet. The wall behind Lee, who was seated at the desk, was floor-to-ceiling glass, giving one a spectacular view of the river.

  Lee stood when they walked across the room toward him. He was dressed casually, in dark jeans and a light brown turtleneck beneath a tweed jacket. No pink, she thought.

  “Tessa, you look wonderful this morning. I take it that both of you had a good night’s rest?” Lee said, though Tessa noticed his voice was much more formal today.

  “I slept well, thank you,” Tessa replied, imitating the formal quality of his remark.

  “Have a seat, please,” Lee invited, gesturing to the plush chairs in a semicircle around his desk. “You want coffee? I have ordered pastries in case either of you are hungry.”

  Food was the last thing on her mind. She wanted to see Rachelle and get it over with. She had spent years fantasizing about such a meeting, and now that her fantasy was about to turn into reality, she didn’t want to wait another minute.

  “Where is Rachelle?” she asked. Tessa didn’t care if she sounded rude. She did not want to wait for the meeting to begin any longer than necessary.

  “Harry has her in another room. He’s getting a DNA sample. Said he wanted to do it himself. Michael Chen is with him. A chain-of-evidence thing; a couple deputies, too. We don’t want the slightest implication of impropriety. Remember the OJ Simpson case? I thought it best to get this over with beforehand.”

  Tessa breathed a sigh of relief. Lee really was top-notch. She was right to put her trust in him. “Yes, I suppose it’s best to get things moving. Did Harry say how long before he has results?” Tessa was beyond anxious.

  “At least twenty-four hours,” Lee said. “That’s working around the clock, which Harry will do. He’s the best there is, and I wouldn’t trust anyone else to undertake this . . . delicate operation.”

  “Where’s that coffee?” Sam asked. “I need a jolt of caffeine.”

  “Minibar,” Lee said.

  Sam brought back two cups of coffee. She took a cup, and though it smelled divine, she didn’t want to chance another stomach upset. She passed it on to Lee.

  “How long before Harry finishes?” Sam asked Lee what Tessa wanted to ask.

  “Anytime now, I would imagine,” Lee responded. “They have been in there at least half an hour already.”

  Tessa felt like she was at trial all over again. The waiting. The nervousness that erupted into nausea, the fear of the unknown. However, this time around, she knew what she would be facing if somehow, some way, what the
y had already discovered, and whatever additional evidence they obtained was not sufficient to have the DA withdraw the charges against her or overcome the evidence that led to the first verdict if the case went to trial. Yes, in the worst-case scenario, she would have a new trial, according to Lee and Florida’s Supreme Court, but a new trial was worth nothing if there was no new evidence to convince the jury that they should return a not guilty verdict the second time around. It all depended upon Rosa’s story being accepted.

  “How’s Chen’s attitude?” Sam asked. “He ready to blow a fuse or what?”

  “Actually, quite the opposite. He’s reviewed Poppy’s artwork and agrees with Jill’s assessment that she was most likely abused, molested.” Lee looked at Tessa with sorrow in his eyes. “And he’s wondering why the bones weren’t found during the police investigation.”

  “Because there was no investigation,” Tessa told him. “They were after me and didn’t listen to anything I told them. They tried and convicted me without a single piece of physical evidence. They went so far as not to bother to determine that my family had actually been killed on Saturday, when I could not have been the killer, rather than before I left the island on Friday.” Tessa found she could actually say the word evidence without cringing; though it bothered her and always would, it was necessary to say the word because that is what would clear her name. Or not.

  Voices from behind her forced her to turn around.

  “I got everything I need, Lee. I’m taking it to the lab now, with these kind deputies who have nothing better to do than follow me around. I’m rushing this. I’m going to do a test, I won’t go into all the details, but it’s quick and should give us answers by the end of the day,” Harry informed everyone in the room. He carried with him three paper bags, which appeared to be sealed with evidence tape. Tessa saw writing on the bags but wasn’t able to distinguish what the labels said.

  “I appreciate this, Harry. You’ve got my cell-phone number. Call the second you know anything. Anything at all.” Lee stepped out from behind his desk and followed Harry and the two deputies to the door.