A Ghost of the Past

by Mary Goldberger

  Shay asked softly, “Why did you stay with him if you knew about all that?”

  Jessica looked at her with dull, lifeless eyes, “I could not admit to my father that he had been right all that time. I wanted to pretend to myself that the boy I fell in love with was still there. For a while, after he brought home Charity, it felt like he was still here. Then it all changed when Charity was seven. She had become more willful as she got older, but I blamed it on the fact that we doted on her and Shane could never tell her no.” Jessica saw the flash of pain cross Shay’s face before she blanked it.

  “When did you learn that Charity was his biological daughter?” Shay asked sitting forward on the couch.

  Jessica smiled a sad smile, “When she turned 10, she asked for this truly expensive toy I forget what it was now, but I told Shane that she would not play with it for long and she did not need it. He disregarded my opinion and bought it anyway. Charity squealed when she opened and gave us both hugs, but I saw the look she threw at me after the party, the same look her father gave me when he came home from one of his countless affairs. It struck me how much they looked alike in that moment and I could not shake the feeling so I hired a detective to find out about your mother. I knew she left town because I paid her a visit before she left. When I learned that she was pregnant, my heart broke because I always thought that he would respect me enough not to get another woman pregnant. He could not even give me that,” she concluded then she coughed and Shay watched as blood dribbled onto her hand.

  “Are you okay?” Shay asked leaning forward, but Jessica pulled back her hand settling around the knife.

  “I am dying,” Jessica said bluntly, “the poison that my husband gave me years ago ruined my chances to have children, but it also weakened my immune system. Last month, I was diagnosed with stomach cancer and with my weak immune system; there is nothing the doctors can do.”

  “No,” Shay said in horror.

  Jessica looked at her and she said, “You have sympathy for a woman who tried to kill you.”

  Shay nodded her head, “I don’t know why, but I do.”

  Jessica laughed lightly, “Shane does not know and I am not going to tell him. Shane, if I am not mistaken, right now is telling Cordial about me and my delusional state of mind.”

  Shay looked at her confused, “Why?”

  “ I told Shane that I killed Charity and I was going to kill you,” Jessica said bluntly.

  Shay tilted her head and looked at her before she said, “You did not kill Charity although I do believe you had something to do with her murder.”

  “ Did you know that even when Charity was engaged to Cordial, she had affairs?” Jessica asked.

  “Yes, we know,” Shay told her softly, “Cordial found her diary in his house that Charity wrote listing every man she had slept with since she was 16.”

  Jessica paled as she put a shaky her to her face, “Poor Cordial, I did not want him to know how awful Charity was for he loved her in his own way.”

  Shay looked at her weirdly at that as she asked, “What do you mean in his own way?”

  “Charity was use to men falling at her feet, but Cordial did not do that although he wanted her. She assumed that no other woman would turn Cordial’s head, but she was wrong about Cordial. When Cordial asked her to marry him, it was not because he loved her like she thought or like he thought. Cordial was happy with her in his own way, but I think he was finally starting to see her for who she really was those last few months before they were married. In fact, he came to talk with me a few days before the wedding about postponing it.”

  Shay was thinking about what she read in the article when she first arrived, and she gasped, “That was why he was never considered a subject in her murder. You were his alibi; he was with you at the time of her death.”

  “Yes he was although Shane and Charity did not know that,” Jessica confirmed. “You see, Shane had been pushing for them to have the wedding early and it pissed him off that Cordial did not fall into his plans. Shane was hoping that his daughter marrying into Cordial’s family, he could get some much needed ties to help the business become bigger. After her death, Cordial offered to help out of guilt because he had already discovered that he did not love her enough.”

  “So that is why he devoted this last six years to her memory,” Shay said in conclusion, “To make up for the fact that he did not love her enough when she was alive.”

  “I have been watching you, Shay,” Jessica said suddenly.

  Shay stilled on the couch as she looked at Jessica wondering if she was going to like what she said next.

  Chapter 31

  “I don’t have time for this,” Cordial said harshly after ten minutes of silence as Shane weighed his words. Cordial turned to walk out of the house hoping that Shay was just taking a walk.

  “Cordial, I just learned that Jessica had something to do with Charity’s death,” Shane said quickly.

  “What?” Cordial asked in disbelief as he spun around to look at him.

  Shane nodded his head, “In fact, she told me today that she was the one who killed her and she was going to kill Shay too.”

  “Why?” Ray asked in shock as she leaned against Todd.

  “It is to get back at me for having that affair with Teresa Montgomery,” Shane said, “Charity was killed because she was my biological daughter and Shay will be killed for the same reason.”

  “Where is she?” Cordial snarled.

  Shane took a hesitant step back as he said without conviction, “I don’t know.”

  “Shane, don’t lie to me,” Cordial said in anger.

  “Jessica may have taken her to the cabin if she has her,” Shane said judging that enough time had passed for Shay to have overpowered Jessica.

  Cordial did not like the brief flash of satisfaction that crossed Shane’s face, but he would worry about that later.

  “Ray, call Barry,” he ordered as he headed for the door and his truck. Ray was on her phone calling the Sheriff as she ran behind him with Todd on her heels.

  Cordial frowned as they jumped in the truck, but he did not have time to kick them out as he started it. He watched as Shane ran out of the house behind them and headed for his own vehicle before he pulled out of his drive. He headed in the direction of where he knew their cabin was located as he spent a weekend with Charity there when he returned one time from college. Shane, in his BMW, followed closely behind him.

  “Barry,” Ray said into her phone, “it is Ray. Shane McCloud just arrived at Cordial’s house stating that his wife claimed to have killed their daughter and now she was attempting to kill Shay. He said that she had taken her to their cabin.” She was silent for a moment before she said, “We are on our way there now with Mr. McCloud following us.”

  “I will tell him,” Ray said before hanging up.

  “Barry said to wait until he gets here before you go in,” Ray said and Cordial grunted.

  “He was leaving as we were talking,” Ray added knowing that it would not change Cordial’s mind unless Barry got there before them.

  Cordial jaw was clenched as he put his foot on the gas praying that he made it there in time because he needed Shay more than he needed anyone.

  “Damn,” Barry said as he put his foot heavier on the gas pedal. Using his CB, he immediately got hold of his deputy, Tad Parker, to see if he could get a hold of the doctor.

  “We may have a situation out at the McCloud cabin. I need a doctor to meet me there,” he ordered as he sped to the cabin.

  “Sheriff, Mark is back from his cruise and he is at the hospital at the moment,” Parker responded back.

  Barry frowned as he said, “Tad, contact him and let him know about the situation. See if he can meet me out there?”

  “Roger that, Sheriff,” Parker said.

  “Afterwards, Tad, meet me out there,” he told him getting his “yes” before cutting silence so he could focus on the road. He hoped he made it there before someone did someth
ing stupid.

  “I have noticed that Cordial laughs more with you than he did with Charity,” Jessica said, and Shay’s eyes widened in shock.

  “I thought…” Shay began before she stopped.

  “I have always liked Cordial even before he got engaged to Charity,” Jessica said with respect. “I also like his father and sister, but his stepmother rubs me the wrong way.”

  Shay heard something in her voice that she could not identify.

  “Jessica,” Shay said quietly as she began to play with the knife.

  Jessica looked down at the knife before she glanced up at Shay, “Shane is going to be so upset after my death.”

  “Jessica, do not do this,” Shay said softly knowing that Jessica had something else in mind than killing her.

  “I am already dying so I want to go out my way,” Jessica said. She looked at Shay and she smiled, “There are many differences between the two of you. I never really noticed it until now although I have noticed how Cordial looks at you.” Then she frowned, “Be careful, Shay.”

  “What?” Shay asked confused before she shook her head. “Jessica, why don’t you put down the knife and we can leave here together?”

  She started when she heard a vehicle pull up and they both heard Cordial shouting her name.

  Jessica smiled as she said, “He does really love you” before she gripped the knife tighter and turned towards her.

  “NO,” Shay shouted, but before she could cross the small space between them Jessica had stabbed herself in the chest and she slid down on to the couch her eyes opened looking at Shay.

  Shay fell to the floor on her knees as the door busted open and Cordial came in.

  “Shay,” Cordial said rushing over to her and he slid to a halt beside her as he noticed Jessica.

  Jessica coughed up blood as she said jerkily, “Cordial, take care of her…” and it was the last thing she said as her eyes closed and her hands fell away from the knife.

  Shane came running into the cabin and he shouted at Shay, “You killed her!” as Shay sat there on her knees looking at Jessica seeing the pain in her eyes.

  “Shut up, Shane,” Cordial growled as he pulled Shay into his arms.

  She was crying as she whispered, “She had such a hard life even with all the money she had.”

  Cordial did not know how to respond to that so he just tightened his arms around her as they stared at Jessica.

  Todd and Ray stood in the doorway while Shane hearing the sirens sunk down to the ground and started sobbing.

  Mark and Pauline, home a week early from their cruise, strolled into the hospital.

  “Mark, what are we doing here?” Pauline asked keeping up with him as they headed for the elevator.

  “I need to see Dr. Baker,” Mark said as he gave her a smile. The elevator took them to the second floor and soon as they stepped off, they saw Dr. Baker standing at the nurses’ station.

  Dr. Baker looked up as they approached and he smiled as Mark said, “Just the doctor I wanted to see.”

  “Hi Mark, Pauline,” Dr. Baker said after he smiled at the nurse and gestured for them to follow him.

  “Mark, you were right about the blood test. Do you think you can talk Shay into taking a paternity test?” Dr. Baker asked.

  Before Mark could say anything, Pauline asked, “What blood test?”

  “Shay Montgomery’s blood test,” he confirmed as Mark frowned.

  “Are you sure about it?” Mark said his brow furrowed in thought.

  “As sure as I can be without doing an actual paternity test,” Dr. Baker said.

  Mark sighed as he looked at him, “I will see what I can do, but Shay may not want to know.”

  Dr. Baker nodded his head as he said, “I understand, but give her the option Mark.” His beeper went off then and he said, “I need to get going. It was good to see you two again. I hope you enjoyed your cruise.” He walked away as Mark and Pauline head back down and out of the hospital.

  “Mark,” Pauline said as they left the building, “What is going on? Why would Shay need to have a paternity test done?”

  “Shay has a birthmark on her left shoulder,” Mark began and stopped. Pauline waited as they walked to their car.

  Mark sighed, “I saw that birthmark before but not on Shane or Teresa.”

  Pauline’s eyes widened, but before she could say anything else, Mark’s phone went off.

  He answered it and after listening for a few seconds, his face became grim.

  “On my way,” he said before he flipped the phone closed and they climbed into the car.

  Pauline looked at him in confusion and he just shook his head at her.

  “I will explain to you later. Right now, they need my assistance at the McCloud cabin. It seems a situation has arisen and a doctor is needed,” Mark told her.

  They headed out as Pauline said, “I hope that everyone is okay.”

  Mark was hoping the same thing as they rushed to the cabin.

  Chapter 32

  Barry stepped out of his cruiser as soon as he put it into park and was heading for the cabin door when Todd saw him.

  He saw the grim look on Todd’s face as he said moving to the side, “It is not good, Barry.”

  Barry nodded his head as he stepped past him into the cabin. Ray stood to the side and she had tears rolling down her face as Todd, who came in behind him pulled her into his arms.

  “Sheriff,” Shane cried from where he was kneeling on the floor, “She killed Jessica, she killed my wife.”

  He looked past him to see Cordial sitting on the floor with his arms wrapped around Shay as they stared at Jessica lying on the couch with her eyes closed and the knife sticking out of her chest.

  He walked to the couch and carefully leaned down to check for a pulse although he knew that Jessica was gone.

  “Shay,” he said quietly but tensely, “what happened here?”

  She looked up at him with her green eyes bright as she said, “She wanted to talk with me.”

  He frowned as Shane started shouted, “If that is true, why is she died?”

  “Shane, calm down,” Barry ordered as he ran a hand through his hair. “I need everyone outside now. This is officially a crime scene.”

  Barry watched as Cordial stood up lifting Shay into his arms to carry her out. They were the last to leave the cabin and he followed them out after a quick glance at the scene.

  Cordial leaned against his truck with Shay cradled in his arms as Ray and Todd stood near him. Shane was sitting in his car and Barry frowned as he realized he was already on the phone, and he heard as he passed, “…make sure that he contacts me right away.”

  He clenched his teeth until he was standing in front of the others.

  “Shay,” he said with a sigh.

  “Are you going to arrest me?” she said without emotion.

  “You did not do anything wrong,” Ray said quickly as Cordial tightened his arms and glared at Barry.

  “I was the last one with her and her husband is claiming that I killed her. He would not be doing his job if he didn’t at least bring me in for questioning,” Shay said turning her head to look at him yet she wrapped her arms around Cordial’s neck.

  Barry smiled without humor, “I am glad that you understand that.”

  She nodded her head as she turned back to face away as her cheek rested against Cordial’s chest.

  “Damn it, Barry,” Cordial said tensely.

  “I have a job to do,” Barry said just as tensely, and Cordial clenched his teeth. “When my deputy gets here, I am going to have him take Shay to the station,” he informed them just as Shane joined them.

  “I can take her to the station,” Cordial said. Barry looked at him for a moment as Shane frowned.

  “All right, Cordial,” he eventually said, “But make sure you go directly to the station.”

  Cordial nodded his head as Ray said, “We will ride with you.”

  Shane was protesting as they got into th
e truck with Todd in the driver’s seat, Ray next to him and Cordial next to the passenger door with Shay in his lap. It was a tight fit, but no one was complaining as they gave the Sheriff a nod as they pulled away from the cabin passing both Deputy Parker and Mark on the way to the station.

  Cordial rubbed Shay’s back as she sat in his lap quietly and Ray muttered, “Your knees are digging into me, Shay.”

  She laughed weakly as she moved her legs curling them around Cordial’s trying to keep her knees from digging into Ray.

  “Shay,” Ray said and Shay looked up at her. “It is not your fault.”

  “Maybe if I had never come here than this would have never happened,” Shay said honestly.

  Cordial stiffened at her words and he tilted her head back to look at him, “I don’t ever want to hear you say that again,” he said harshly.

  Shay looked up into his silver eyes and she lifted a hand away from his neck to place on his cheek, “But I can’t regret it because I got to meet you.” Then she looked at Ray and Todd adding, “All of you.”

  She turned back to Cordial with her green eyes bright with unshed tears and he leaned down to kiss her swiftly but hard.

  When they got to the station, the Sheriff had already informed his staff that they were on the way so they were waiting for them.

  “Miss Montgomery,” Ms. Dabs, the Sheriff’s assistant, said as they walked in, “we need you to come with us please.”

  Shay nodded her head as Cordial asked, “May I come with her?”

  Ms. Dabs looked at him hard then she sighed as she shook her head, “I am sorry, Cordial, but she needs to go to an interview room until Barry or Tad comes back.”

  Cordial clenched his jaw, but Shay turned to him and gave him a nod. “I will be fine, Cordial. Thank you,” she said quietly giving him a small smile.

  “Shay,” Cordial said catching her hand, “I will stay here until you are allowed to leave.”

  Her eyes gleamed with something that made him catch his breath, but before he could say anything she turned away to follow Ms. Dabs.