Rock Around the Corpse

by Lizbeth Lipperman

  She prayed that everyone made it to the hospital safely and would be okay, even Helga. As much as she wanted to see her pay for all the pain she’d caused, her Catholic upbringing prevented her from wishing personal injury or worse on the woman, even though she’d killed Brent and seriously wounded Sheriff Wilkerson…and Vince.

  As she thought about Vince, she closed her eyes and said another quick prayer that he’d walk away from the hospital with only a minor shoulder wound. And that he’d find it in his heart to forgive himself so that he could move on. God help her, but she wished she could be there when he did.

  Chapter Twenty

  Sitting around the table after pigging out on an incredible Thanksgiving Day meal, Deena took a minute to look back on the events leading up to the holiday. She had a lot to be thankful for—most importantly, that she and her sisters had survived the ordeal at the spa six weeks earlier. Glancing around the table as they all talked at once, she felt a huge rush of love pour over her.

  Do you have any idea how lucky you are? Tessa asked with a sigh. I’d do anything to be back here enjoying Thanksgiving with all of you one last time.

  Deena looked up at her dead sister, who was standing behind Maddy on the other side of the table. The immediate family knew that the ghost appeared to her sisters when one of them was in trouble, but she was pretty sure that if she spoke to Tessa now, Vince Hogan and Sheriff Wilkerson would think she was still hallucinating from being drugged six weeks earlier. Instead, she mouthed me too, to her sister.

  They’d just finished the main course and were enjoying the traditional glass of cognac before dessert. The sisters had insisted that Sheriff Wilkerson and his wife be invited since the man had nearly died saving them. Vince was an automatic invite since he’d been working with the Oklahoma police to put the finishing touches on the case and had kept in touch with Maddy—as well as Deena.

  After leaving the hospital less than an hour after he’d arrived, his first phone call had been to Deena to tell her that he was okay. The next night he’d called back to let her know that Helga had awakened and was blaming everything on Brent Kershaw. After that, the calls had come nightly with one update or another.

  Finally, last week Vince had invited her to dinner. Deena could still remember how nervous he’d seemed, much like a teenage boy who’d finally gotten up enough nerve to ask the head cheerleader on a date.

  Not that she was anywhere close to being considered a head cheerleader. On the contrary. She’d always been the one on the sidelines watching the popular girls interact with the football stars. But it had felt amazing to feel like one, if only for a few minutes.

  She and Vince had met in Gainesville—about halfway for both of them—at a really nice Italian restaurant. They’d sat through the entire dinner before he’d worked up enough courage to ask if he could see her again. As beads of sweat broke out on his forehead, she’d almost felt sorry for him.

  Although she was still cautious because of her experience with her ex-husband, she hadn’t hesitated. Somehow it had just felt right, and when she’d invited him to share Thanksgiving dinner with her entire family, his face had lit up like a Fourth of July sparkler. He’d even brought his aunt, who’d lost her husband several weeks before and was now entertaining Maddy and Kate with stories of some of his limo clients.

  “Are we ready for dessert?” Deena asked, noticing a lull in the conversation. When they all nodded, she stood. “Kate, will you get the coffee while I serve up the pie?”

  “I’ll get it, Kate. You say here with your family.” Vince pointed to Danny Landers. “And your family to be,” he added, referring to the fact that a week after Kate had returned home, Danny had gotten down on one knee and proposed. He’d wanted it to be a Christmas surprise, but after hearing how close they’d come to dying at the hands of a madwoman, he’d popped the question early. It had taken Kate all of five seconds to say yes.

  Maddy was sitting next to Jake Mathews, the cop from San Antonio she’d met when they’d both worked on the Joey Agostinelli case two years earlier. Deena was sure her older sister would be the next one to get engaged. She was being pressured by her daughter, who loved Jake almost as much as Maddy did. Jessie had even played the broken wrist card, trying to convince her mother that if Jake had been there, she wouldn’t have been in the treehouse in the first place. But that ploy hadn’t worked so far, especially because right after the cast came off a week ago, she’d climbed right back up in that treehouse, much to Maddy’s dismay.

  When they all had a slice of pumpkin pie crunch and a cup of coffee in front of them, the conversation turned to what had happened at the spa.

  Vince had already told Deena about the police finding Gary Wharton in the woods, dead from an apparent mountain lion attack. She’d said a silent prayer for the man because although he’d had his faults, he’d been unjustly accused of killing Brent Kershaw. After several interrogation sessions with Helga, she’d finally admitted that she’d rubbed a towel over Brent’s chest after she’d killed him, then smeared Gary’s white shirt with the blood. That, along with the laced Scotch, had been enough to convince everyone that he was the killer.

  “What did you find out about Naomi Patterson, Jerome?” Maddy asked. “I’ve always wondered what the connection was there.”

  Wilkerson swallowed the last bite of his dessert and took a sip of coffee before speaking. “Seems she and her father and younger brother lived in that log cabin that was burned to the ground. From the little bit we were able to find out from one of her college friends, it seems that after her brother died, she was sent to live with an aunt in Oklahoma City where she lost contact with her father. When he showed up at her aunt’s funeral years later, they reconnected and spent some time together. After her father committed suicide, she told this same friend that she was going back to where she grew up, and if all went well, she’d come home a rich woman.”

  “Oh Lord, how could I have forgotten that story?” Deena said, shaking her head.

  “What story?” Vince asked as all eyes turned in her direction.

  “One of the contractors first told me about the stone clad monster and how everyone out in that section of the country was cursed with bad luck because of what had happened to him. The guy almost didn’t take the job because of his superstitions, especially after hearing the story about a world-renowned taxidermist who had lived in the woods.” She paused for second before continuing. “Rumor had it that this taxidermist had turned on the gas one day and blown himself up.”

  “And you think that man could have been Naomi’s father?” Kate’s eyes were wide with curiosity, and she leaned across the table in order to hear better.

  “I don’t know. It makes sense that it was the reason Naomi wandered into the woods by herself, knowing how dangerous it was. Maybe her father told her something at her aunt’s funeral that made her think she would find money out there.”

  “Not money,” Vince said, narrowing his eyes. “Information. What if Chrissy Rockford went to Naomi’s father and had him fill the bear’s head with money from…” He stopped short of saying Mafia in front of the two lawmen. “…her rainy day stash?” he said instead.

  The sisters all made eye contact, then just as quickly broke it. If Colt knew the money stuffed in the bear’s head could be the millions reportedly stolen from Nicky Cavicchia, in all good consciousness, he’d have to inform the state police. Everyone, including Haley, would have to give the cash back and watch it get thrown into some government fund and probably forgotten. It was serving a much better purpose in the hands of the people at the spa, and there was no real proof that it was Mafia money, anyway.

  “That would explain the last entry into the man’s receipt book,” Maddy said. “He did a $2500 job for Chrissy. When you think about it, it was a pretty good hiding place for her cash, don't you think?”

  “And if Naomi’s father told her about it at the funeral, maybe that’s what she was talking about when she said she was going to get ri
ch. Maybe she and her dad planned to steal it, since he was the only one other than Chrissy who knew where it was.”

  “Wait a minute,” Deena said. “I keep thinking about why Chrissy would buy the hunting lodge in the first place. According to Haley, she was all about girly stuff, and the probate lawyer only found out about the lodge after Chrissy died and a search was conducted for her assets and next of kin. Is it possible that when Agostinelli got the hunting lodge as a blackmail payment from Theo Elliott, he put it in Chrissy’s name without her knowing about it?”

  “That actually makes a lot of sense since Agostinelli was in the witness protection program and probably didn’t want his name on any public document that the Mafia could get their hands on. He’d already screwed up when he’d put out feelers for the one-of-a-kind necklace he’d also stolen from Cavicchia. I wouldn’t be surprised if you told me that he’d killed Naomi’s dad to ensure that no one else found out about the stuffed bear,” Maddy said.

  Colt, who had been sitting quietly beside his wife and listening, finally spoke up. “I guess we’ll never know, but it’s definitely plausible, especially because Haley told you that buying a hunting lodge was so out of character for her sister.” He held out his coffee cup for Deena to refill. “Oh well. That’s just one of those details that will have to remain a mystery.”

  Sheriff Wilkerson cleared his throat. “Speaking of mysteries, solving the murder at the spa wasn’t the only one the police were able to clear the books on.”

  “Really. What else, Jerome?” Colt asked.

  “There was young couple at the spa—Sam and Olivia Mason.”

  “Did they ever find her?” Kate asked.

  “Ah, yes. The impatience of youth. I’m getting to that part,” Wilkerson snickered before dropping a bombshell on them. “Olivia Mason—a.k.a. Nancy Moore—was apparently hiding out at the spa, which was perfect since it was so far away from the nearest town,” Jerome said.

  “Hiding? From whom?” Deena asked, before adding, “I knew there was something fishy about the couple.”

  “Not the couple. Just Olivia. Sam was a pawn in all this. Olivia—or Nancy—married him to get him to help her launder money.”

  “This is getting good. Don’t tell me she was Mafia, too?” Kate said.

  “No, but she and her ex-boyfriend, a securities bigwig, scored over twelve million dollars in an oil and gas scheme in Houston. Apparently, she’d seduced the guy, talked him into setting up the bogus investment deal, then sat back and watched the money roll in. It always amazes me when people see a deal that’s too good to be true and still squander their life’s savings just to get a piece of it.”

  The sheriff shook his head and took a sip of his coffee. “Anyway, when the SEC finally caught up to them, she high-tailed it to Oklahoma City and left him holding the bag. He’s now serving two years in a federal prison. In the meantime, she singled out Sam Mason, a car salesman who was barely making it on his commissions at the Mercedes dealership where he was employed, and worked her magic. He must’ve thought he’d died and gone to heaven when she walked in and flashed all that cash at him. She ended up buying several cars, allowing her to turn the money into an investment. Then when she’d sell the cars to other dealerships across the country, she’d have legitimate purchases for her stolen money. Plus, Sam got to keep the huge commissions he made on those sales.”

  “Where is she now?” Lainey asked.

  “The cops found her in the woods the night we were rescued.” He tsked. “She was damn lucky they did, too, as she was hiding very close to a cave with lion cubs inside and two very protective parents guarding the entrance. I might also add that next to a tree in that same area, they found a mauled and very dead Gary Wharton.”

  “Holy cow! You can’t make this stuff up,” Deena said as she began clearing the plates from the table. “What about Yolanda Templeton? What was her story?”

  Wilkerson turned her way. “Who?”

  She was about to tell him what they suspected about the masseuse when she felt Vince squeeze her knee under the table, and she closed her mouth.

  “I don’t think you mean Yolanda, Deena. It’s Carlene Newman that you asked me about earlier. DNA tests showed that she was indeed his daughter from a woman he’d gotten out of jail and was probably taking his fee in sexual favors, just like he did with India.” He chuckled. “Anyway, the case is still in probate, but it looks like the woman is going to walk away with Kershaw’s entire estate.”

  “Poetic justice, if ever there was,” Deena said. “And speaking of India, how’d she end up after all this?”

  “She was cleared of any wrong doing as was everyone else. Seems Helga acted alone after she killed Kershaw.”

  “Enough talk about the spa, Colt said, raising his coffee cup. “Today is Thanksgiving, and I’d like to propose a toast to family and good friends. May we all have reasons to be thankful when we get together again next year.”

  “Here, here.” After the toast, everyone helped with the cleanup, and when they were through, Deena found herself alone in the kitchen with Tessa. “I hate that you’re going to leave us again. I was just starting to enjoy having you around.”

  Tessa teared up. I know, Deena. I feel the same way. It’s been fun hanging out with you. Of all my sisters, I was closest to Kate and Maddy. Lainey was always able to see right through me, and you stayed clear of me most of the time.”

  “Honestly, I was a little afraid to you.”

  “And for that, I’m sorry. Do you still feel that way?”

  Deena shook her head. “I wish we could have a do-over with our lives.” She smiled. “I love you a lot, Tessa.”

  And I—you, but it’s time for me to go now.”

  “I’m really going to miss you.”

  Tessa shrugged, as a mischievous grin covered her face. So, go get yourself into trouble again, and they’ll send me back. They love any excuse to get me out of the way up there. With that, she blew Deena a kiss and then disappeared.

  Deena was still standing by the sink staring in the corner where Tessa had stood when Vince walked in. “Who were you just talking to?”

  She opened her mouth and almost told him about the ghost, then decided it was probably better if she sprang her dead sister on him once she got to know him better—if she got to know him better. If it was up to her, that would be sooner rather than later. “Myself,” she lied. “I guess I was remembering how much fun it was to have everyone around the dinner table. Even the kids were unusually well behaved. I hope your aunt enjoyed my huge family, even though no one can get a word in edgewise.”

  “Oh, she did. And she managed to do her fair share of talking.” He grinned. “She pulled me aside a minute ago and informed me that I would be a fool if I didn’t finagle my way into this family.”

  Deena took a deep breath. “Is that something you’ve thought about?”

  He took her hand. “Almost every day since I first met you. But you know my story, and I know yours. To do this right, we need to take it slow. Does that work for you?”

  “Absolutely. I’ve already confessed how terrified I am of the whole dating thing. I think I’m ready, but then I remember the Brent Kershaw disaster, and I get scared.”

  He laughed. “Waking up with a dead man next to you would definitely scare me, too. But you’re worth waiting for.” He looked into her eyes for a second, and she saw the longing there. Then the moment was over and he said, “I wanted to tell you about Yolanda Templeton, but I couldn’t back there. Like you, I suspected that she was hiding something, and before we left the spa Sunday night, I pulled her aside. She opened up to me that she was in the country illegally and that Kershaw had been blackmailing her for his silence.”

  “The more I hear about that man the more I realize what a dirt bag he was.”

  “Yeah, and we probably don’t even know the half of it. Anyway, when I returned home, I called a friend of mine who works in ICE. With Haley vouching for Yolanda, my friend was able to get
her a temporary green card. It shouldn’t be a problem keeping her in the country until she can become a citizen as long as she has gainful employment.”

  “That’s really good news. I knew there was something up with her, but I didn’t know what.”

  He bent down and lightly kissed her, then held her so close she felt his heart racing before he said, “I’d better go before I forget that we agreed to take it slow. I’ll call to let you know that we made it home safely.”

  She waved goodbye and watched him walk out the door. She’d just taken the first step to rejoining the adult relationship world, and it hadn’t killed her. There was hope for her, after all.

  She walked back to kitchen sink to finish up when she glanced through the window into the dark…and swore she saw Tessa wink at her.

  The End

  About the Author

  Photo by: Jane Harbin Helms

  Liz Lipperman started writing many years ago, even before she retired from the medical profession. Wasting many years thinking she was a romance writer but always having to deal with the pesky villains who kept popping up in all her stories, she finally gave up and decided since she read mysteries and obviously wrote them, why fight it? She now calls what she writes Romantic Mystery (RM) since there is always a little romance involved. Seven years ago, she signed her first contract with Berkley to write a cozy series called "The Clueless Cook Mysteries.”

  Having lived in Taiwan and Saudi Arabia, she and her HS sweetheart hubby now reside north of Dallas. When she’s not writing, she spends her time doting on her four wonderful grandchildren. She writes the Clueless Cook Mystery Series for Berkley Prime Crime, the Jordan McAllister Mystery Series and the Garcia Girls Mystery Series for The Story Vault. Her romantic suspense/mysteries are available on Amazon.

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