The Lake House Secret, A Romantic Suspense Novel (A Jenessa Jones Mystery)

by Debra Burroughs

  Jenessa grimaced at her sister’s portrayal. “What a stick in the mud.”

  “Oh, he wasn’t so bad.”

  “Not to you.” The lightness of the atmosphere disappeared, and Jenessa turned away and shoved the candle back on the shelf. “Mind if I keep the candle?”

  “Knock yourself out.” Sara went back to rifling through the boxes.

  “I’m going to go through Dad’s highboy.” Jenessa walked out of the closet.

  “Wait, I want to see too.” Sara followed.

  Was Sara afraid Jenessa might palm something she wanted? They were finally beginning to get along again. Now was not the time to start bickering over their dad’s belongings like possessive dogs over a bone.

  “Bring one of those shoe boxes with you so we can empty the top drawer,” Jenessa said.

  Jenessa pulled the top drawer open, finding a watch and a flat jewelry case. She opened it and found numerous pairs of cufflinks set in multiple little felt-lined squares. She picked up the watch. “This was his sports watch, but didn’t he have another watch? That fancy expensive one Mom gave him on his fiftieth birthday.”

  “Oh, the Ferragamo?” Sara asked nonchalantly, studying a pair of cufflinks in her hand. “Does anyone wear cufflinks anymore?”

  Was Sara trying to change the subject?

  “Yes, the Ferragamo. Do you know where it is?”

  “At my house.” Sara’s gaze rose to Jenessa for a moment, then drifted back down to the case of cufflinks. “Remember, we picked up Daddy’s personal items from the morgue?”

  “That was a six-thousand-dollar watch. What were you planning to do with it?” Her blood pressure began to rise. Don’t bicker now. Her mother’s voice was in her head.

  “I’d forgotten about those things until you mentioned it,” Sara said, her gaze still on the cufflinks as she examined them one by one.

  Was that the truth? Or was she trying to pull something over? “So you have Dad’s wedding ring too?”

  “Of course. It was with the other stuff—his clothes and shoes. You seemed like you were only interested in getting his keys at the time. Why do you ask?” Sara inquired with an innocent lilt to her voice, flashing her sister a familiar doe-eyed look.

  That was the look that got her into trouble when her little sister did something wrong and Jenessa got blamed for it. She took a breath and paused, struggling to keep her voice calm. “Why don’t you bring his stuff over here so we have it all in one place? Then we can decide who gets what, what we should sell, what we should give away—that sort of thing.”

  “And maybe we should have Aunt Renee here as an innocent third party in case we both want some of the same things.”

  “Yes, so one of us doesn’t try to take advantage of the other.” Maybe Jenessa shouldn’t have raised her eyebrows at the end of that statement.

  “You mean me?” Sara asked, her voice rising with indignation. “If you’re going to be like that, I’m out of here!” She handed Jenessa the tray of cufflinks as she breezed past her.

  “Now, don’t be like that, Sis. I was just—”

  Sara was down the stairs and out the door before Jenessa finished her sentence.

  “So much for getting along,” Jenessa told her aunt when she phoned her and described the bit of a clash she’d had with Sara.

  “You can’t just say the first thing that comes into your head, dear. You’ve always been one to poke the bear, but you don’t like it when the bear pokes back.”

  “Hmm…you could be right.” Jenessa rubbed her hand on the back of her neck, where she felt tension building. She settled on the edge of the bed, inhaled deeply and huffed out one long breath, releasing some of her stress. “Do you mind acting as a go-between while we sort through Dad’s things?”

  “I don’t mind, hon. I’ve been doing it for years.”

  That was true. Even before their mother had died, Aunt Renee would step in to mediate fights between the two of them.

  “Now pull your big girl panties on and apologize to your sister.”

  ~*~

  After a further talking-to by Aunt Renee, Jenessa phoned her sister and apologized as instructed. She and Sara agreed to meet again when all three could be there.

  Jenessa popped up off the bed and put the tray of cufflinks back in the jewelry box. As she set the tray down into the shallow top drawer, her gaze went to the one felted square that held only a single link. Where was its mate?

  She plucked it from its nest and cradled it in the palm of her hand. It was an abstract A and E. Oh, God! It was an exact match to the cufflink in the photo.

  Chapter 39

  It had been her father’s cufflink down in the shallow grave. Jenessa’s stomach did a backflip at the realization, causing her mouth to water. Her stomach roiled and she wanted to vomit. That was where she’d seen it before—on her father’s wrists.

  Her phone jingled in her pocket and she flinched at the sound. She dug it out and glanced at the screen. It was Michael. Should she tell him what she just found? It would mean her father was involved in Lucy’s death somehow. But he was dead now too, so she might as well—what could happen to him now?

  “Hello?”

  Jenessa let him ask her how she was and how her day went before dropping the bombshell on him—she knew about the cufflink found with the body and she had a picture of it. What’s more, she had the match to it and it belonged to her father.

  “I’m not even going to ask how you know about it,” he said.

  That was just as well.

  “This could mean my father is the killer—my father, Michael.” The thought her dad could have killed someone sent an icy chill feathering up her spine. She shuddered to shake it off.

  “We don’t know that for certain, but yes, we have to look at it as a possibility. I’m coming over and we can talk more about it.”

  “That’s a good idea, but what about Jake?”

  “No problem. I’ll call my mom to come by and watch him for a little while. That cufflink needs to be taken into evidence as soon as possible.”

  Within fifteen minutes he was knocking at her door.

  After a brief exchange, she led him up the stairs to her father’s bedroom. She held out the jewelry tray and he picked the lone cufflink up with a gloved hand and dropped it into an evidence bag.

  “You’ll find my fingerprints on it,” she said.

  “Shouldn’t be a problem. It’s DNA we’re looking for to match the other link. What about a hairbrush or anything like that?” he asked.

  “In the bathroom.” She pitched her chin toward the bath.

  “Or even an old watch might have some sweat or skin cells on the back side of it.”

  The sports watch in the drawer. She went to the highboy and pulled out the top drawer for Michael. “Like this?”

  Michael lifted out the watch and dropped it into another evidence bag.

  “What about the other cufflinks in his jewelry box?”

  “Leave them. This should be enough,” he said. “What do you think the A and E stand for?”

  “The only thing I can think of is Alexander Enterprises,” Jenessa said. “Maybe Grey Alexander had them made and gave the pair to Dad as a gift.”

  “If that’s the case, there are probably others just like it out there,” Michael surmised.

  “Grey might have a pair, and maybe even Logan too,” she said. “Or others in the company.”

  Michael gave her a slight nod. “It could be that Logan was the one who had accidentally dropped one of them in the grave when he was moving Lucy’s body, along with his comb.”

  “Maybe,” she agreed, although Jenessa had never seen him wear cufflinks, except with a tuxedo the night he took her to the prom.

  “I’ll get these things to the lab in the morning.”

  “But Michael, if my father’s DNA matches the one found—”

  A thick lump caught in her throat and she couldn’t even get the rest of the sentence out. She blinked back the
salty tears that stung her eyes.

  Could the guilt over what he’d done have been the pivotal thing that changed him? Was it really what had stood between her and her father for all these years? Not only her illegitimate baby, but his part in Lucy’s death as well?

  It had seemed to Jenessa like it was only the relationship between her and her father that was strained, but with not having been around much, except for a couple of times a year, how could she really know? Maybe he was different with her mother and Sara too, but Jenessa just hadn’t noticed because she was so caught up in her own emotional turmoil.

  “Don’t do that to yourself,” Michael said with a soothing tone. He must have sensed her need, for his arms encircled her and he pulled her toward him. She leaned her head on his chest and he lightly kissed her temple. “You don’t know he did anything. Maybe that cufflink they found isn’t even his.”

  Michael was a doll for trying to assuage her feelings, but as a detective he had to be wondering if her father was the killer as well.

  “Maybe.” She could only pray it wasn’t true. News headlines flashed before her eyes—David Jones Murdered Lucy St. John. She closed her eyes and buried her face against him.

  He held her in silence and gently rubbed his hand over her back.

  After a time, she pulled back. “Look at me, what a crybaby.”

  “No one can blame you for being upset.” He tucked a couple of fingers under her chin and lifted her face. “Want some good news?”

  “That would be nice.” She gave him a weak smile.

  “We found Tony Hamilton.”

  Jenessa stepped away and wiped the tears from under her eyes. “Where?”

  “He was in jail in Fresno on drug charges. We got them to transport him here in the morning for questioning. If it wasn’t for the comb and the cufflink, I’d think he did it.”

  “Yeah, I would have too, in the beginning, but now…” Thinking about her father’s possible guilt, she shook her head sadly. “Let’s get out of here and go downstairs.”

  Michael followed her out of the bedroom and down the steps. “We’ll interrogate him tomorrow and see if he can at least furnish us with a date when he last saw Lucy. That’ll give us a better time frame of when the murder might have taken place.”

  “Haven’t you and George been able to see from her records when she stopped using her cell phone and her checking account?”

  “We’re talking over ten years ago, Jen. The bank has those records archived and they haven’t gotten them to us yet, and we don’t even know which cell phone company Lucy used back then. They might not even be in business now.”

  “And of course her landline would have continued to be used by Ramey for a while, so that won’t tell us anything.” She stopped at the bottom of the stairs and turned back toward Michael. “Let’s hope this Hamilton character can tell you more than just the last time he saw Lucy.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like why she ran out on Ramey, supposedly to Southern California, but then she turns up dead at Jonas Lake. She came back for a reason, but what was it?”

  “Guess we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find that out.” Michael slid his hands around Jenessa’s waist and tugged her closer. “I need to get home and relieve my mother. Oh, and my cousin Luke is coming in tonight.”

  “Cousin Luke?” Jenessa rested her hands on Michael’s muscular arms.

  “He’s driving down from Reno. He wants to check out Hidden Valley and maybe apply as a patrolman at the police department.”

  “I’d like to meet your cousin Luke,” she said with an impish grin.

  “I’m sure that can be arranged.” Michael smiled down at her. “He’ll be here through the weekend. Are we still on for dinner Friday night?”

  She gave him a playful smile. “We are, but what about your cousin? Won’t he expect you to entertain him?”

  “He can have dinner at my folks’ house. That’s where Jake will be.”

  “I hope your son doesn’t mind me stealing some time with his dad.”

  “You know, Jake still talks about our afternoon together at the fair.”

  “He does?” That pleased her. He was a sweet little boy.

  “He wanted me to tell you that we like you a bunch.”

  “A bunch?” She slipped her arms around him and couldn’t help but smile broadly.

  “A bunch.” Michael grinned. He lowered his face to hers and kissed her softly. “Both of us.” He kissed her again. “But mostly me.” He kissed her again, longer and more deeply than before, and she didn’t want him to stop.

  When he released her, her head was dizzy. “Would you like to stay?”

  “Of course I’d like to, but I can’t. Remember, my mom’s watching Jake. I told her I wouldn’t be gone long, and it’s getting late.” He took Jenessa’s hand and kissed the back of it. “I’ve gotta go.”

  He walked to the front door, leaving her standing in the foyer, at the foot of the staircase, holding onto the balustrade.

  “We’ll talk tomorrow, I’m sure.” Jenessa was anxious to know what Tony Hamilton would tell the detectives. “And don’t forget our date Friday night.”

  He had opened the front door, but he returned to her with long strides and pulled her up in his arms again. He kissed her slow and long. “Wild horses couldn’t keep me from it,” he whispered in her ear.

  His warm breath on her skin and his deliciously sensuous kiss left her lightheaded, and she grabbed hold of the banister, dropping down onto one of the steps as he went out the door with a wave.

  ~*~

  Jenessa got up the next morning and called the Herald to bring her boss up to speed on her story.

  “Mr. McAllister has stepped out,” Alice said. “May I take a message?”

  “This is Jenessa, Alice.”

  “And your phone number, Jenessa Alice?”

  “No, my name is Jenessa. Your name is Alice.”

  “But you just said—”

  “Never mind. I’ll call his cell phone.” Jenessa chuckled to herself as she tapped Charles’s number into her phone.

  “Hello, this is Charles McAllister.”

  “Hey, this is Jenessa. Just checking in.”

  “Don’t forget you’ve got a couple of obits due this afternoon and you still need to reschedule the high school principal.”

  “I know, I know,” she moaned. “I thought you’d like an update on the big story.”

  “Sure, but I’m having breakfast at the moment.”

  “At The Sweet Spot?”

  “As a matter of fact, yes. How’d you know?”

  “A lucky guess. I’m headed down myself to pick up a coffee. How about I meet you there and we can talk?”

  There was a pause on the line. Was Charles with someone?

  “I guess that’d be okay,” he finally answered.

  “See you in a few, boss. Oh, and say hello to Ramey for me.”

  ~*~

  Jenessa pulled her sweet little Mercedes into a diagonal parking space outside of The Sweet Spot. She slid out from behind the wheel, stepped onto the sidewalk, and glanced back at the sparkling blue sports car. What a step up from that worn-out Toyota she had been driving. She had her dad to thank for that.

  The thought of her father and his possible involvement in Lucy’s murder deflated the lighthearted step the beautiful car had given her. She tried to brush the uncomfortable feeling off as she reached for the coffee shop’s door.

  Sara was on her way out as Jenessa swung the door open.

  “Good morning, Sara.”

  “Morning. I’ve got to get to the bank. Ramey’s inside, making googley eyes with your boss.”

  Jenessa covered a giggle with her fingers. “Well, I’m happy for her.”

  “Me too. I just wish they’d take the show somewhere more private. You know the whole town will be talking about them by dinnertime.”

  “I’m sure they will.” Jenessa considered telling Sara what she was uncovering about t
heir father, but what would be the point? It was too early to accurately assess his involvement in Lucy’s death. No need to weigh her or Aunt Renee down with the worry of it too. Jenessa would carry the burden of it alone, for now.

  “Got to run.” Sara hurried down the street.

  By the time Jenessa stepped inside, Ramey was clearing the plates at Charles’s table.

  “There’s my prize reporter,” Charles said.

  “Hey, Jenessa,” Ramey greeted. “Nice morning, isn’t it?”

  Ramey’s bright spirit was endearing and contagious. How could Jenessa have thought for one second that Ramey might have killed her mother?

  “Can I get a small mocha cappuccino with a double spritz of whip cream on top?”

  Ramey’s mouth turned down. “Oh dear, a double spritz day. That can’t be good.”

  “I’m hoping it’ll turn around,” Jenessa replied, trying to work up a smile. “We’ll see.”

  “Have a seat with Charles and I’ll bring it right out, poor thing.” Ramey disappeared behind the counter.

  “Morning, boss.” Jenessa took a seat beside him.

  “What do you have for me?”

  Jenessa surveyed the café, dotted with townspeople enjoying their coffee and chatting away. “After Ramey brings my coffee, I think we’d better step outside to talk.”

  “Why?”

  That was a silly question. What was Ramey doing to this man’s brain? Jenessa leaned closer to him. “As if you haven’t noticed, some people in this town have big ears and loose lips.”

  Charles looked around the place. “You may be right.”

  Chapter 40

  Through the bustling coffee shop, Ramey brought Jenessa’s drink to the table.

  Jenessa stood and hugged her friend good-bye. “Thanks, Ramey.”

  Charles began to reach out to give Ramey a hug as well, but her gaze flashed around the crowded café and she pulled back a little, sticking her hand out instead. He took it and gently shook it. “Breakfast was great. I hope we can do it again sometime.”

  “I’m sure that can be arranged. I have some pull with the owner.”

  Ramey’s face was beaming as Jenessa and Charles went out the door and stopped at the sidewalk.