by D E Dennis
Monica clicked her tongue. “Entirely possible they did. Plenty of party-goers refused to be searched that night. They could have hightailed it out of there with the phone safely in their pocket and then got rid of it.”
“That’s what I would have done,” Michael said tiredly. “As for the parents, we need to dig deeper into their relationship with Beauty without them knowing about it.”
“How do we do that?”
Michael struggled to his feet. “We talk to the people with the perfect view of their family life, always standing off to the side listening but not joining in.”
Monica smiled. “The staff.”
IT WAS A QUICK CALL to Mary that informed them that neither one was at home. The three of them were together in one place.
Beauty Cadal’s apartment.
Monica slammed the car door shut and looked over the hood at Michael. “I don’t envy their job. Having to pack up Beauty’s belongings, because the Cadals can’t face it.”
“Me either.”
They climbed the stairs and knocked on the door. Donna opened the door a few seconds later. She was wearing blue jeans, a blue blouse, and a blue apron.
“Hello,” she said, beaming away. “Mary told us you were coming by to talk to us again. How can we help you?”
The smell of homemade chocolate chip cookies wafted out of the apartment and Michael remarked on it.
“You’re baking?”
She stepped to the side to let them through.
“Yes,” she answered. “We have been here for most of the morning and it’s almost lunchtime. Would you like me to make you something as well?”
Michael smiled at Beauty’s former cook then shook his head. “Thank you, but we’re fine.”
“Speak for yourself.” Monica snorted. “I would love to try whatever you’re baking, Ms. Donna. It smells lovely.”
Donna giggled. “They’re my own recipe. Chocolate butterscotch cookies. You sit down, and I’ll get you a couple with a nice, cold cup of milk.”
She hurried away and Michael turned to his sister. “Really?”
“What? I’m hungry.”
They stepped into the living room to find Mary and Dora poring over cardboard boxes, a half-dozen items wrapped in newspaper were at their feet.
“Hello, ladies,” Michael said with a wave. “I hope you don’t mind us interrupting to ask you a few questions.”
“No problem at all,” said the woman in a pink cardigan and pink pants. Mary placed a wrapped bowl on the floor and cleared away newspaper and packing tape to make space on the couch. “We would take any excuse for a break.”
Dora dusted off her hands and joined them. “So what would you like to talk to us about, Mister...?”
“Michael,” he supplied, “and this is my sister, Monica.”
“Oh, a family operation,” Mary said. “How sweet. Us too.”
“You three are all related?” Monica asked.
“Donna is my sister,” Mary explained, “and Dora might as well be my sister.”
“Does it ever get tough working with family?” Monica asked. “I know it does for me.” She bumped Michael’s shoulder.
Michael clutched his chest. “That hurts, baby sister. That really hurts.”
Dora and Mary laughed.
“No, you two are adorable,” Dora said. “I’m sure you get along just fine. Just like the three of us do. Family is everything.”
“Speaking of family,” Monica said, steering the conversation to the point. “I can’t imagine what the Cadals are going through, after losing their child.”
“Such a tragedy.” Mary tsked. “I have never seen such devoted parents. Beauty was their entire world.”
“So Beauty had a good relationship with them?”
Mary lifted her shoulders. “They loved her to bits.”
“But, what about Beauty?” Michael pressed. “How did she feel about her parents?”
“One shouldn’t gossip,” she said firmly, but all the same, she lowered her voice and leaned in. “But in my opinion, Beauty did not appreciate what she had in them. Two loving parents willing to give her everything and anything she wanted, but all she could find the time to do was complain.”
“Mary,” Dora chided. “We shouldn’t speak ill of her now that she is gone.”
“Now, Dora, you know I don’t like to gossip,” Mary replied as she joined them on the couch. “But there is no point in lying. Beauty went from a sweet, loving child to a petulant teenager, and then finally into an abrasive, spoilt adult. She was snappish with everyone, and I could not for the life of me figure out why.”
Dora sighed. “It’s true she changed,” she said reluctantly. “But that may have been inevitable. Giving into a child’s every whim and tantrum does not result in a kind, patient adult.”
“You’ve both known Beauty since she was a child?” Monica cut in.
“Oh yes,” Dora said. “The three of us have worked for the family since Charles was young. That’s why he asked us to look after Beauty after all the trouble they’ve had recently. He wanted people around her that he could trust.” Dora looked down at her clasped hands. “No one loved Beauty as much as Charles did. He would have done anything to protect her.”
“Anything,” Mary echoed. She leaned into Michael’s shoulder. “I don’t like to gossip.”
Oh, but you clearly do.
“But you should have seen the scene he caused when Beauty first started dating that boy. Gale? Gavin? Something or other.”
Screwing up her face, Monica questioned, “A scene? When was this?”
Mary nodded enthusiastically, eyes sparkling with a glee that bordered on malicious. “Yes, it was months ago, maybe seven or eight. I was returning from picking up Beauty at school, and her father was waiting here for us. Gareth pulls up soon after we get out of the car. He climbs out, and Charles suddenly goes crazy. He started shouting at him and telling him to stay away from his daughter. He even tried to hit him.”
Monica’s eyes went round. “What? Why?”
“I have no idea. As far as I know, they never met before. The whole thing was very bizarre.” She tossed her head. “I went inside of course and left them to it, because one should not eavesdrop, but the three of them were out in the parking lot shouting it out for a while.”
“Charles is just very protective,” Dora said quickly, rising to his defense. “He’s been through a lot, the poor man. His father was a task-master. Clark Cadal clawed his way to the other side and was determined to be seen as an equal among the Fairy Tails community. He put untold pressure on Charles and it all got to be too much. Charles fell in love and ran away when he was young and then things went tragically wrong with Malia too.”
Wait? What did she just say?!
“I think when Beauty came into his life, he was so determined to be a better father and show how much he loved her that he—”
“Excuse me,” Michael said, leaning around Monica. “Did you just say Malia? Malia who?”
She blinked at him. “Malia Diragoni, of course.”
“Yes, dear,” Mary sounded in his ear, making him jump. “Didn’t you know she was his ex-wife?”
Michael’s jaw was working, but no sounds were coming out.
“No, we didn’t,” Monica said, looking just as flabbergasted as Michael. “We had no idea they used to be together.”
“Well, of course not, dear,” Mary replied. “No reason you should know. One shouldn’t—”
“—gossip,” Michael finished. “Right you are, Ms. Mary, but now that this is a murder investigation, it’s important we know all the details, even the ones that seem insignificant. That is why I’m so thankful to you all.” He slipped his hand into Mary’s. “We appreciate you sharing all this information, even though it makes you feel uncomfortable.”
Mary’s cheeks reddened. “Oh, it’s no trouble, Michael,” she purred. “We’re happy to help you, however we can.” She released Michael’s hand and got to her feet
. “I should go see what’s taking Donna so long in the kitchen.”
She left the room and Michael, Monica, and Dora remained.
Dora sighed. “We truly do want to help,” she said softly. “Beauty could be trying at times but underneath all that was the sweet girl I knew. The thought of someone pushing her... down the—”
Tears sprang to her eyes as she choked up, not able to continue. Monica scooted closer to her, and rubbed her back, murmuring quietly to her until her tears slowed.
“I’m sorry,” she said. Dora lifted her head peering at them with red, puffy eyes. “This is all so horrible.”
“Maybe we should come back another—”
She cut Monica off. “No. You’re hunting down a murderer. Time is precious. I won’t be the reason the investigation is delayed.” Dabbing her eyes with the sleeve of her green sweater, she straightened her shoulders. “Ask your questions.”
“Okay,” Monica said with a hint of reluctance. “Then if you wouldn’t mind, tell us more about Malia and Charles’s relationship. You said things ended tragically but they seem to be on good terms now.”
Dora looked away which Michael noted immediately. He had been studying her face the entire time, as he did with all interviews no matter how visibly uncomfortable people got, and as he did, Michael was struck by a strange sense of familiarity. He couldn’t quite put his finger on—
“There isn’t much to tell. They were young, in love, and didn’t want to hear anything about it. Charles’s father wasn’t thrilled with the arrangement. She lived on our side, and he wanted his son to make a better match. So Charles did the only thing his seventeen-year-old brain could think to do. He ran away with her.”
“But things didn’t work out?” Monica pressed when she didn’t go on.
Dora shook her head. “They ran out of money and had to come back home. Forced to live under his father’s rule once more, Charles started drinking and that soon spiraled out of control. The two of them were desperately unhappy, and then...”
She trailed off once more but another voice was quick to pick up the thread.
“And then he met Claudia,” Mary said. She was carrying a plate of sandwiches while her sister, Donna, trailed behind her with the cookies. “You can imagine what happened. He fell in love with her, and left Malia high and dry. The poor girl did not take it well. She showed up at a party at the Cadals’ home and made a very dramatic, and I heard embarrassing, scene. She had to be physically removed.”
Michael whistled. He couldn’t help himself. “How do you become friends after that?”
“Malia went away for a while,” Donna said as she plated a sandwich then handed it to him. “I’m sure you know what that means.”
Michael nodded at her knowing look. She went away to get help.
“When she came back,” Donna continued, “she had changed and so had Charles. Claudia was pregnant with Beauty at the time so he sobered up. As for Malia, she wanted no more negativity in her life. You know that whole sunny personality of hers with the ‘darling’ this, and ‘hello, love’ that. She was committed to moving on from the past and only focusing on happiness, hers and others.”
“So she opened Year of the Dragon,” Mary cut in, not to be outdone by her sister. “She said what better profession than spending your days making people laugh and dance and smile.” She rolled her eyes. “Although, if you ask me, she came back from that holiday too soon. Do you see those ridiculous getups? The woman looks like an overgrown bat.”
“Mary, really,” Dora scolded. “That is not nice.”
Michael looked up, the sandwich halfway to his lips, catching Dora’s frown. His lunch almost slipped from his fingers as it finally smacked him full in the face.
“—right, Dora,” Mary was saying. “One shouldn’t be catty. I—”
“Dora,” Michael burst out, startling them both. He put the turkey on rye back on his plate. “Dora, do you have children?”
She blinked at him. “Why, yes, of course. My daughter’s name is Emily.”
Michael shook his head. Of course. The two of them didn’t resemble each other in any obvious way, but that frown is the same. Funny the things we pass down.
“Does Emily go by Emma? Emma French?”
Dora nodded. “Yes, she does, but you knew that already, Mr. Grimm. Emma told me you have spoken to her multiple times.”
Monica goggled at them as she caught up with the conversation. Her lunch also ended up back on her plate.
“We actually had no idea, Ms. Dora. We never got your last name, nor did we ask Emma who her parents were. So, Beauty and Emma really did grow up together.”
“They did and my Emma is devastated,” Dora said, her hands tightening on her plate. “They have known each other almost their whole lives. I worked as a housekeeper in the main house for Charles and he let me bring Emma over to play with Beauty. They were inseparable from the start. I don’t know how I’ll get her through this.”
“This is a tough time for all of us,” Donna said. “But, we have each other.”
“What will you all do now?” Monica asked.
Donna blew out a breath. “We will have to resume our earlier positions. I will go back to working in the main house as the cook. Dora, the housekeeper. Mary, the gardener.”
Dora raised her head, looking off somewhere above Michael’s head. “Yes, we just go back to our old lives like... nothing has changed.”
THE GRIMM SIBLINGS said their goodbyes and headed out to the car. Monica slid into the driver’s seat and threw her container of cookies onto the back seat.
“I don’t know about you,” Monica said, “but I found that conversation very enlightening.”
“Malia is Charles’s ex-wife. Emma French is Dora’s daughter.” Michael threw his hands up. “What’s next? Marcus Pepper is Claudia’s secret illegitimate half brother? There are so many mixed-up relationships in this case, I can barely keep track.”
“I hear you,” Monica replied as she pulled out of the parking lot. “Although, thanks to our non-gossiping friends, we might have a better idea of these mixed-up relationships. Like Beauty’s relationship with her parents.”
“Sounds like the Cadals gave Beauty the world and she appreciated none of it. I would also like to know more about this fight Charles got into with Gabe. He never mentioned having a problem with him before.”
“I think at this point, we can say the Cadals didn’t mention much of anything. To be fair, they were preoccupied with Beauty and needed to be by her bedside, but it’s becoming clear that we have to speak with them properly. We need to be sensitive though. They are grieving, and we work for them. We can’t let on that we’re treating them as suspects.”
“Sensitive is my middle name.”
She laughed. “Nope, that would be Cornelius. Sorry, bro, but you can’t come out from under that one.”
“Do you really want to go there, Caroline?”
Monica’s laughter dried up in a hurry, while Michael’s came rolling out of his chest in full force.
Through gritted teeth, she said, “Alright, truce.”
He wiped away a tear. “Deal,” he said between chuckles.
“Two truces in one day,” Monica grumbled. “Maybe we should take some cues from Malia on repairing our brother/sister relationship.”
He chuckled. “I don’t know about that, but I would like to talk to Malia. It seems like she knew a different side of Charles. I would like to know who that side was.”
Monica didn’t look away from the road. “The side that blows up on a guy he barely knows. Or maybe the side that wasn’t in the ballroom when Beauty fell.”
“Yes,” he said gravely. “That side.”
PRIVILEGES STILL FIRMLY in place, the guard to Cadal Manor let the Grimms in without question. All the same, they hesitated before getting out of the car. They sat there for so long, the front door opened and Nico peered at them from the welcome mat.
“Let me do the talking,” Monica sai
d.
“I always do.”
They finally clambered out.
“Hello, Nico,” Michael said as they approached. He introduced Monica to the butler, and they shook hands.
“Hello, Miss Grimm. Please come in. The Cadals are expecting you.”
They trailed behind him, stepping through a front room, a hallway, a different living room, and then to the door of the dining room.
“The Cadals are having a late lunch. You are free to join them.”
He opened the door and stood aside to let them enter. The Cadals rose from their seats the moment they did.
“Michael. Monica.” Claudia abandoned her untouched bowl of soup and raced over to Monica. She gripped her hand, rather tightly, if Monica’s wince was anything to go by, and dragged her over to the seat next to her and her husband. Michael followed at a slower pace, glancing around the dining room.
It was a massive space and still the dining table took up most of it. It was one of those tables meant for gleeful Christmas parties and family reunions. Not for two people.
Michael sat and smiled into their worn, pale faces. “It’s good to see you both. How are you doing?”
Claudia’s chin trembled. “We have been organizing the funeral, but it’s been difficult because we don’t know who to invite. All the people we would ask to be there, we invited to our daughter’s twenty-first birthday, and among those people is her killer.” Claudia looked at them pleadingly. “Please tell us you have something.”
“We do have something,” said Monica.
Michael’s eyes widened a fraction, but he did not say anything. He trusted his sister.
“We found out Beauty was talking to a man she met through her blog. His name is James Spindle. Had Beauty ever mentioned him to you before?”
“No, never.” Claudia twisted around to look at her husband. “Charles, have you heard of him?”
He shook his head as well. “Why? Does he have something to do with her death?”
“He does not exist, Mr. Cadal. James Spindle was an alias, a catfish as we call them, who pretended to be someone else online to get involved with your daughter.”
