Besides, it was Saturday, and so many people allowed themselves a little selfish pleasure on the weekends. There was nothing about it that should make her feel guilty or lazy. She simply needed to relax, and it was quality time with the individuals who counted on her the most.
***
Sunday morning dawned bright and warm, and Millie sat in the kitchen with the windows open, allowing some of that fresh air to blow into her apartment. The cats were not entirely excited about it. Coraline scratched at the screen and yowled continuously, trying to get back to her alley, while Harlow and Newman avoided it altogether, keeping their distance and hiding in the bedroom. Grant and Viggo crouched and hid, Viggo hissing and Grant growling at the sounds outside the open portal.
Millie found it all amusing, and she ate her omelet and drank her coffee slowly, reveling in the idea of having a slow morning and taking her time preparing for the day. She knew the will was to be read this morning, and she was beyond intrigued to discover what would come of that. But otherwise, she didn’t really have anything on her plate, and she thought she might actually take the time to do a crossword puzzle, something she hadn’t done in at least two weeks.
But she couldn’t bring herself to take that kind of luxury. She ended up showering immediately after breakfast, closing the window in fear that Coraline might actually manage to escape, and she rolled her eyes as all of her cats relaxed in the safety of an enclosed space. She took a little extra time in the shower to use her special hair treatment, but otherwise, she went about her normal routine.
She mused about the property and assets Gordon Whitman had to will over to someone, and she wondered if he had true friends and family he would pass his worldly possessions to. More intriguing was the thought of the businesses. If it was just one business, it wouldn’t seem so interesting to her, but when one owned five businesses, did one endow a single individual to overtake all of them, or did one spread them among people so as not to overwhelm one person with such responsibility?
She grunted to herself, wishing she could be there, at the reading, so she could begin to piece together more motive. If Gordon Whitman had left something significant to his ex-wife for any reason, it would add to the life insurance policy as motive.
She grew impatient waiting and finally, at one o’clock, she called the detective. “Good afternoon, John,” she said, the name feeling strange on her tongue. “How are you?”
“I’m doing well. And you?” he returned, sounding patronizing.
She frowned. “I would appreciate it if you could refrain from using that tone. I’m not some insane person, and I’m not a child. I’m an intelligent older woman.”
“Okay, I’m sorry. What can I do for you?”
“I was wondering if you’ve heard anything about the reading of Gordon Whitman’s will.”
“I actually attended as a representative of law enforcement working the case. I think I know what you want to ask, and no, there was nothing left to the ex-wife. Are you satisfied?”
“On that topic, yes, but I still want to know something else. How were the businesses handled? Did he given them to new owners, or are they to be sold?”
“He stipulated that one pawn shop be closed and the other to remain open. He mentioned briefly that it was up for sale, and that his lawyer would handle the transaction. The restaurants are going on the open market, again to be handled by the lawyer. The jewelry store stays open, and it can be sold only to one of the employees or to Whitman’s ex-wife. I think it was a clause he forgot to remove, considering it still names her as Bea Whitman.”
“Do you have enough to bring her in for questioning? She’s in town so she can look good for going to the funeral.”
“Well, she wasn’t at the reading. But I’m going to present all of this to my captain. We probably can’t arrest her. We wouldn’t get a warrant without DNA evidence or something, but we can insist she come in for questioning as a person of interest. Listen, didn’t you say that your friend at the jewelry store is going to get a loan to buy it?”
“Yes, Anna wants to buy it and says her parents are going to help her get a loan. But from what I can see, her parents are practically destitute. I would think that, if they could get a loan, they would have taken care of themselves already. I’m assuming she’s just dealing with some aspirations she knows in her soul she can’t reach but denies it with her mind. It’s sort of a thing that happens to so many teens.”
“It is sad. Okay, I want you to tell Anna not to put in a bid for the place yet. I want to see if the ex-wife comes forward with the money first. Don’t tell her why; just tell her whatever you think will hold her back for a few days.”
“I can do that,” she told him, surprised and excited that he’d actually assigned her a task. “I’ll drop by today and see if she’s in. If not, I’ll see if I can find her phone number or address.” Millie fixed her hair in the mirror, making sure she was presentable, and then she headed out the door. She blew kisses to her pets as she closed the door, and she had a spring in her step as she went down the stairs that were usually an annoyance. Today, she didn’t mind them at all, her energy so full and strong nothing could bring her down.
At the shop, she was disappointed to find that Anna wasn’t there, but Matt, one of the other long term employees, had seen Millie enough times with Anna to trust her, and he gave her the address of Anna’s home. Millie thanked him profusely, and she hurried back to the car, putting the address in her GPS. Minutes later, she was in the neighborhood and feeling a little out of place. It wasn’t a bad neighborhood; it was just old and run down. She pulled up to the house, but it looked abandoned, and when she knocked on the door, it swung open.
Inside, there were no furnishings and no sign of anyone having resided there for some time. Cobwebs lined the ceiling, and dust caked a half inch thick rested on the counters and coated the floors. She didn’t go inside; she didn’t have to. Everything she needed to know was visible from the doorway.
Anna had lied about her place of residence. What else had the girl lied about?
Millie left in a hurry, dialing the detective as she drove. She didn’t like talking while she drove, but she had a very sick feeling in the pit of her stomach, and she thought it was going to be very important to get the police right on this. In fact, she was suddenly afraid for her own life. She’d spoken too openly with Anna, and now, she was afraid she was on the dangerous end of things. If any of these people thought she was onto them, they wouldn’t hesitate to eliminate her as they had Carlisle and Whitman.
She thought the call was going to voicemail, but a winded John answered at the last minute. “Did you have to run to get the phone?” she asked, concerned.
“I jogged. Don’t worry about me. I’m just in the middle of something a little strenuous. Did you need something?”
“Yes, I think I’m in trouble.” she spilled everything she’d just discovered. “John, I spoke with Anna several times and made statements about the police getting close to an arrest, finding all kinds of clues. I’m afraid something bad is going to happen to me.”
“Why don’t you meet me down at the station? You’ll be safe there until we can find out where Anna is.”
“I can’t! I have to take care of my cats, and I know you’re not going to let me bring them. And don’t argue with me. Crazy people go for the animals first, hoping to break you so they’ll stop. I can’t let anything happen to my cats.”
“Millie, you’re priorities are a little strange, but I’ll post a guard at your door, okay?”
That was a relief, and it meant that she could make one more stop. She needed to go to the library and look up a birth certificate. “Thank you, John. Will you call me when she’s found?”
“I certainly will. I’m sure you need the peace of mind.” As she hung up, Millie realized she was shaking, and she took deep breaths through her nose and released them through her mouth to help calm her nerves. At her apartment, she didn’t see a uniformed officer ar
ound yet, but she wanted to be in her cradle, so she rushed to her door and let herself in. With the door safely locked, she turned to face her living room and gasped.
Anna sat on her couch, cradling Harlow and wearing a diabolical smile. “You know, you shouldn’t assume your information is safe. How many times have you given me your credit card? And did you forget you had your information on file for the ‘frequent buyer club. I didn’t have to look hard for your address, and you just happened to have gotten too close for comfort while my coconspirator was in town.”
Millie watched in horror as Bea Forks appeared from her bedroom, and she swallowed a whimper. She didn’t know how long it would be before the cop got here, but she knew she didn’t have a lot of time. “I wasn’t trying to hurt anyone. How are you two even involved in this? Couldn’t you just disappear and get out of town?”
“Thanks to you, not anymore,” Bea spat. “I should have known your flattery was just to get in my good graces so I’d talk and give you something to research. I was already livid about those other fools getting in my way, and I’m ready to split their heads wide open.”
Millie had to know the truth, and it would probably work out more in her favor if she could keep them talking. “How do the two of you know each other?”
Anna raised an eyebrow, her innocent looks now clouded with corruption. “I’m surprised you haven’t figured that out by now. Bea is my mother.” Millie simply stared. “Yes, I know it’s quite the revelation, isn’t it? But it’s true. Gordon always thought Mama had an affair and never accepted I was his daughter, so they divorced, and I grew up with my mother and no father. I’ve wanted to get something out of him my whole life to make up for never having him, and this was the perfect opportunity.”
“You were embezzling?” Millie gasped.
“Giving you the info to throw you off was a good little trick, wasn’t it? Dear old Dad refused to leave the shop to anyone, and I couldn’t pay for it, so I had to get the money somehow. I took a look at the net worth of the place, and as it turns out, between the life insurance policy payout and the money I took, there’s no way I won’t get it.” Anna sat up straight and proud. Millie looked around, suddenly realizing as Newman disappeared that none of the cats were in the room. They didn’t like bad people and were incredible judges of character. “Anyway, now that you know what happened, you can’t stay around, Millie. I’m really sorry about that because you have some wonderful taste in jewelry and were one of my favorite patrons. And now that I’ve met your cats, I think I’m in love.”
“Stop being sappy, Anna. We’ve got to get out of here. She’s friends with a cop, remember? He could show up at any time and ruin everything we’ve done.” Bea tapped her foot impatiently.
“Wait, so you two had nothing to do with the break-in?”
“No. I went to the shop to transfer all the money, and it looks like Gordon had just figured out what was going on because he confronted me. I didn’t get a chance to argue back because the guys showed up and shot Gordon. I grabbed his gun and fired a few shots, but only one landed. The others ran. I guess they weren’t prepared for the place to be occupied. I didn’t want to get in trouble, so I just put the gun back in his hand where he lay on the floor and got out of there.”
Millie couldn’t believe what she was hearing, and she began to panic as Anna pulled a gun and pointed it at her. “You’re going to come with us to the car, very calmly, because I’m going to have this gun in my purse, pointed at you. Do you understand?” Anna asked.
Millie froze and couldn’t answer, so she only nodded. She let them push her out of the apartment, and she only wished she could say goodbye to her cats. She prayed that the officer was there when they opened the door, but he was nowhere to be seen. She started down the stairs, legs shaking, and she knew this was over. There was no way she could fight two younger, stronger women.
A car rolled into the parking lot, and Anna hissed, “Act normal,” in her ear.
They led her to a small white SUV and opened the rear door, but before they could shove her in, she heard a familiar voice shout,
“Police! Hands in the air, now!” Millie felt the purse at her back shift, and she chanced a glance behind her.
John stood behind the open door of the police car, gun aimed at the two women. Relief swept through her, and she stepped aside as the purse with the gun fell from Anna’s shoulder, both her and Bea holding their hands in the air and looking shell-shocked.
Apparently, they hadn’t expected anyone to show. Feeling safe, she ran to John and got in the car as he instructed. He called for assistance, and as he arrested Bea Forks and Anna Whitman, having two uniformed officers escort them to the police station for booking.
Millie was taken to the station to give a statement, and when she finished, she found several officers shaking her hand and thanking her for her help. The three thieves had been brought in and confessed, and Bea and Anna was going to be behind bars for a very long time. As Detective Marx drove her home, she found she was exhausted.
“So, are you up for another case anytime soon?” he teased.
“Probably not for a couple of weeks, at least. I’m going to have to get some therapy for this one. But that’s what my cats are for.” She intended to take it easy and enjoy her family until she truly felt recovered.
“I think that’s a good idea.” He walked her to her door and shook her hand. “Thanks, Millie. You were really helpful. Now, do me a favor and stay out of trouble for a while.”
She chuckled. “Only if you promise to swing by now and then for a personal visit so I don’t feel like I need to turn you into a knight in shining armor to see you from time to time.” She went inside, thinking it was nice to end things with his smile, and she went straight to the bedroom, laying down and letting her babies crawl in with her to soothe her. This was the life, and no matter how much she enjoyed her sleuthing, she always wanted to come back to this in the end.
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CATch a Killer (A Millie Holland Cat Cozy Mystery Series Book 2) Page 6
