Enid was shaking as she pulled back onto the main road and sped away. She kept looking in her rearview mirror to see if she had been followed when she realized that the biker knew exactly where to find her if he wanted to. She steadied her breath and tried to relax. Just stay calm. Nothing happened.
On the way back to the inn, Enid tried to listen to soothing music, but one thought kept popping up. Whatever Eddie is up to, Ray Jensen must be involved.
CHAPTER 42
The next day, when Jack and Cassie returned from Charleston, Enid pulled Jack aside to tell him about seeing Ray’s secretive meeting with Eddie. Jack suggested they talk at the diner rather than discussing it in front of Cassie. With all that was going on, Jack was concerned about Cassie’s emotional state.
They rode into town in silence. Enid thought about Cassie and her son, while Jack appeared to be lost in thoughts of his own. When they walked into the diner, the waitress that had served Enid breakfast yesterday approached their table. She recognized Enid and greeted her. When the waitress returned with a glass of iced tea for Jack and a cup of hot tea for Enid, she pointed to Jack’s glass and grinned. “Now that’s how you supposed to drink it ‘round here.” She looked at Jack and winked. “Right, Jack?”
After the waitress left their table, Jack leaned in toward Enid and spoke in a low tone. “What the hell were you doing following Ray Jensen?”
Enid explained what had happened. “I guess it was foolish of me to go down that road.”
“You’re like a moth drawn to fire. I worry about you.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t want you, or anyone, to worry about me. But the truth is, I’m tired of being bullied by Chief Jensen. I think he uses intimidation to get his way. Even if he was involved in Rosie’s murder, or in covering it up, he’s not going to go after a journalist, especially since he knows Cade’s family has ties here. That would bring down his little empire.”
“Maybe the chief wouldn’t, but if the bikers got you, he could always say he warned you. Which, I might add, would be true. But Ray’s a different story. I thought he had left his wild days behind him. After all, he’s a leader in the community now, and I can’t imagine he would risk his reputation being associated with Eddie.”
The waitress reappeared with their food, so Jack waited until she was out of earshot before continuing. “One thing I do know is that whatever is going on is bigger than your story. I think it’s time for us to see my friend Dan at SLED.”
“You think we’re in over our heads?”
Jack chuckled. “Definitely.” He put two fries in his mouth and chewed vigorously. “I’ll call him when we leave and see if he can meet with us soon.”
CHAPTER 43
The rain sloshing through the roof gutters woke Enid. She got up and looked out the window. Dark clouds hovered over the inn. After showering and getting dressed, Enid sat at the small antique desk by the window and looked at her notes. Since coming to Madden, she had created more questions than answers.
She put her papers back in the large leather tote and went downstairs. Cassie was in Charleston again today to finish the shopping trip that had been interrupted by the break-in and wouldn’t return until late afternoon. Jack had flown to Chicago for his sister’s wedding. It was her third, but Jack said she seemed to be just as excited as a first-time newlywed. Since the workers had finished the inside work, they wouldn’t be able to work outside in the rain, so Enid was alone for the day.
She sat at the big table in the kitchen and nibbled at the edges of a blueberry muffin Cassie had left. The rain was still coming down steadily while Enid contemplated on how she would spend the day.
After finishing her breakfast, Enid took her notes to the library. Might as well make good use of the time. Otherwise, it would be a long, boring day. Her conversations with Cade nagged at her. Not just because of the tension between them, but something about his meeting with Madelyn Jensen worried her.
Using her iPhone, Enid searched for Madelyn Jensen online. Numerous hits were returned, showing Madelyn speaking at conferences, meeting with the head of a new women’s center in Columbia, and other public appearances. Madelyn had even addressed the women’s club at the Blackwell Center in Madden. Enid searched for Madelyn’s law firm and got the address and phone number in Columbia. Enid glanced at her watch. It was probably too early for the office to be open, but she decided to try it. On the third ring, a woman answered. Caught off guard, Enid stammered. “I’m trying to reach Madelyn Jensen. Is this her law office?”
“Speaking.”
Enid hadn’t fully thought about what she would say, assuming she would just leave a message. “My name is Enid. Enid Blackwell.” She heard a soft laugh on the other end.
“I was wondering how long it would take you to call me.”
Enid wasn’t sure whether to be surprised or angry. Obviously, Cade had called her about their conversation.
“Enid, are you there?”
Enid cleared her throat. “Yes. Sorry. I was wondering if I might, that is if you could—”
Before she could finish, Madelyn interrupted her. “Yes, I’ll be happy to meet with you.” She paused. “But not in Madden. And I won’t talk on the phone.”
“Then I’ll be happy to come to Columbia if you tell me when it’s convenient for you.”
“How about today? I’m meeting with a client this morning, but my afternoon appointment just canceled. I’m free for lunch around 12:30.”
“That would be great.” Enid groaned silently at the prospect of driving in the pouring rain, but she didn’t want to miss this opportunity. They made arrangements to meet at a restaurant.
* * *
Bourbon was a cozy restaurant just a block from the state capitol building in Columbia and known for its Cajun food. The place was packed. While they waited for a table, Madelyn talked to almost everyone who came in. She was obviously a regular here. When they were seated, each ordered a bowl of gumbo with andouille sausage. Looking around the restaurant, it reminded Enid of places where she and Cade had eaten in Charlotte. She pushed the thought from her mind.
Enid wiped the condensation dripping from the bottom of the glass with her napkin. “I really appreciate your meeting with me, especially on such short notice.”
Madelyn pulled at the lapel of her jacket to straighten it. “Let’s just get one thing out in the open.” She paused, no doubt for a dramatic effect she had practiced in the courtroom many times. “No, I didn’t sleep with Cade.” Madelyn stared directly at Enid long enough to make her uncomfortable.
“I’m not sure how to respond to that.” Enid despised herself for feeling diminished by Madelyn. “Cade said the same thing.”
Madelyn sipped her water. “And did you believe him?”
Enid wasn’t sure what she believed at this point and was uncomfortable with the way the conversation was going. “The reason I’m here is that I’m doing research into Rose Marie Garrett’s murder.”
Madelyn laughed. “He said as much. I think he said something like you were going to finish the job he started.”
Enid was annoyed with Madelyn’s familiarity with Cade. “Look, I’m not here to talk about Cade.” As much as she hated to admit it, Enid could understand why Cade would be attracted to this woman. She was smart and attractive, in a disarming sort of way. “I want to write about Rosie’s life, not solve her murder.”
Madelyn looked at her intently. “Really. And how do you separate the two?”
Enid recalled similar words from Cade. She forced herself to relaxed the tension in her shoulders a bit. “I admit, it’s not as easy as I’d hoped. I want to show what kind of person she really was, not the one portrayed in the articles and in Madden gossip.”
A tall man walked over to their table and talked to Madelyn about a court date, so Enid tasted her gumbo. It was delicious. Knowing how much Cade liked gumbo, she wondered if he had been to this restaurant with Madelyn.
After the man left, Madelyn turned her attention back to Enid. �
��Sorry for the interruption. Where were we? Oh, yes. You were telling me you’re your own woman, and you aren’t trying to show Cade up.” Madelyn laughed. “I’m sorry for being such a bitch. It just comes naturally in my line of work.”
Enid smiled. In spite of herself, she was beginning to appreciate the woman’s straightforward manner. Out of habit, Enid glanced around to see if she recognized anyone sitting nearby.
“Don’t worry,” said Madelyn. “You’re not in Madden. You can relax.”
“Until this minute, I hadn’t realized how nice it was to be away from all the problems there.”
“It’s a great little town, or at least it could be, in spite of my family’s influence.” Madelyn gracefully tucked her hair behind one ear. Somehow she made such a simple gesture look seductive. While Madelyn was aware of her own beauty and used it to her advantage, she did not appear to be vain at all. “I understand why you are disappointed in Cade. I admit, I was too.” She looked directly into Enid’s eyes. “But he had his reasons. Let’s face it, we all do things in the name of family that we wouldn’t otherwise do.”
“Cade mentioned that you felt your uncle, Chief Jensen, might be involved with the bikers.”
“I’m sure of it. I’d rather not go into detail, but just trust me on this one.”
Enid wasn’t sure she was ready to trust Madelyn completely. She reminded herself that Madelyn, like most good attorneys, was persuasive.
They finished the meal talking about their favorite restaurants. When the waiter left the bill on the table, Madelyn put her credit card on top of it. “Lunch is on me.” She waited until they were alone again before continuing. “May I ask why my uncle’s involvement with the bikers is of interest to you?” Her tone was Madelyn-the-attorney again.
“Everyone seems to be convinced that Rosie was buying drugs from the bikers and that they killed her, yet the autopsy didn’t show any drugs in her system. She was a healthy young woman.”
Madelyn studied Enid’s face. “And what do you think?”
Enid weighed just how much she wanted to open up to Madelyn. “I honestly don’t know at this point. What I do know is that Rosie became disillusioned with her family—for good reason. After she was killed, her family just wanted to forget about her. I think she deserved better, no matter what happened.”
“I heard about the Blackwell family making a big donation to the town to buy back their reputation.” Madelyn paused and then leaned forward, speaking softly. “Uncle Dick is paid by the bikers to look away from their drug business. I know it, and I’m pretty sure I can prove it. As you know, I’m an officer of the court, so I’m in a difficult situation, both legally and with my family.” She leaned back and shook her head. “But I’m not getting involved. I promised my mother I’d leave him alone. That’s why I turned to Cade. He may be able to do what I can’t.”
“Are you convinced the bikers killed Rosie?”
Madelyn stared at Enid as if sizing up a witness on the stand. “Actually, no. I’m not.” She smiled. “Does that surprise you?”
“Nothing about this mess surprises me anymore.” Enid hesitated. “I know you need to get back to your office, but I need to ask one more question.”
Madelyn remained silent but nodded consent.
“What about Ray Jensen?” asked Enid.
“What about him?”
“Is he corrupt too?”
As a good attorney would, Madelyn avoided Enid’s question and responded with her own. “Are you aware Ray was in love with Rosie?”
“I knew they were close friends, and that he sometimes supplied drugs for Rosie.”
Madelyn signed the charge slip and put her credit card back in her purse. “Maybe you need to talk with Ray yourself. I’d rather not speak for him. In fact, I assumed you already had.”
“I tried.” Enid wiped her mouth with the napkin from her lap. “Maybe you could set something up with him. For me to talk with him, I mean.”
Ignoring Enid’s request, Madelyn stood up and flashed her attorney smile. “It was great meeting you. Good luck with your story.” Madelyn walked over to another table and spoke to an older man there and then left abruptly.
CHAPTER 44
The next morning when Enid woke up, the sun was shining and the workers were back at work on the inn’s renovations. She could hear hammering outside beneath her window. She checked her phone messages. Jack had decided to extend his trip to visit a cousin he had lost contact with, so he would be in Chicago a few more days. Before showering, she called Cade to ask about Fern’s condition. She left a voice message and went downstairs.
“Hey, Sunshine,” said Cassie. She gave Enid a hug. “Sorry I was so pooped last night. I wasn’t much company.” Cassie returned from Charleston late last night, exhausted from driving in heavy rainstorms that had now moved east, toward the coast.
“I was tired too.” Enid decided not to tell Cassie about going to Columbia to meet with Madelyn. No sense in worrying her needlessly. Cassie was only a little older than Enid but had assumed the maternal role in their relationship. Her protectiveness reminded Enid how much she missed her mother.
Trying to sound casual, Enid asked Cassie, “Do you by chance know Ray Jensen, the police chief’s son?”
Cassie sat down in the chair across from Enid. “Why do you ask?”
“He was close friends with Rosie, and I’ve been trying to talk with him.”
“I see.” Cassie studied Enid’s face, as if looking for more information. “Well, of course, I know who he is, but I don’t know him. At least not well enough to get you a meeting with him.” Cassie stood up and walked back to the stove for more hot water. “But I know someone who can help you.”
“Who would that be?”
“Molly is like a part of that family. I’ll be glad to ask her to help you. Or you can ask her yourself.”
“I don’t think Molly appreciates me asking a lot of questions around town. She may not want to help me.”
Cassie smiled. “Oh, of course, she will. That’s just Molly being Molly. Like me, she’s a bit overprotective at times, and she can be a bit grumpy. But I assure you, she’s harmless. I’ll ask her for you.”
“I would appreciate it. Thanks.” Enid put her dishes in the big farm-style sink. “I’ve got some things to do today, so I’ll see you later this afternoon.”
As Enid was walking away, Cassie called out to her. “Oh, wait. I forgot to give you something.” Cassie walked into hallway and returned with a large FedEx envelope in her hand. “This must have come for you yesterday. It was on the porch when I got in last night.”
“Thanks. It must have come while I was out.” Enid took the envelope upstairs and sat at her desk to read it. She studied it twice to be sure she understood it. The message was clear. She and Cade were several months behind in their mortgage and the bank was giving them notice of possible foreclosure.
Enid stared out the window at the lake. She had lost her job and her husband. Now she was going to lose her house. Why had she assumed Cade was taking care of all the finances? She’d call him later. Right now, she couldn’t bring herself to have that conversation.
Enid heard a knock on her door, and then heard Cassie call out. “Enid, I’ve talked to Molly. May I come in?”
Enid forced a smile as she opened the door and offered Cassie the seat at the window. “That was quick. Your contacting Molly, I mean.”
Cassie was sitting on the edge of the chair. “Molly said she was glad to help you, but Ray has left town. She wasn’t sure when he’d be back. Some kind of committee meeting in Raleigh, North Carolina. That’s too bad, I don’t guess you’ll be able to talk with him. Not right away, at least.” Cassie stood up to leave. “Well, I’ll let you get back to whatever you were doing.” She glanced at the papers on the desk and walked over to Enid. Putting her hands on Enid’s shoulders, she squeezed affectionately. “Everything will work out. You’ll see.”
After Cassie left, Enid sat on the bed and
considered her next steps. The path she was on had cost her a lot. Or maybe these changes had been inevitable, and she had just hastened the process. At any rate, she now had to deal with the fallout sooner rather than later. She rubbed her temples to ease a throbbing headache.
Reluctantly, she picked up her cell phone and called Cade. His familiar voice mail message only worsened her sense of doom and failure. “Cade, it’s me. Call me. We need to talk.” She then added, “It’s about the house.” She threw the phone on the bed and lay down, tempted to pull the covers over her head as she had done as a child when she was afraid of monsters lurking in her bedroom. Her mother never tried to tell her the monsters weren’t real. Instead, she encouraged Enid to “be brave and don’t let them scare you.” Looking back, Enid realized her mother was talking as much to herself as to Enid. When did her mother become so fearful of everything? The only thing she didn’t appear to be afraid of was her own death.
Enid resolved to stop worrying about the foreclosure, her job, their marriage, and everything else that was on her mind. Instead, she decided to go into town. She dressed and was headed out the door when the phone rang. It was Cade. For a moment, she was tempted to avoid him and then realized how foolish that would be.
“Hi. Thanks for calling me back. First, how is Fern?”
“She’s doing much better.”
“Tell her I asked about her. Or maybe I’ll give her a call.
“I’ll give her the message.”
“The reason I called is that I got a foreclosure warning on the house.”
Cade remained silent.
“Cade? Did you hear what I said?”
“Yes, I heard you. The problem is we don’t have enough savings to catch up our mortgage. Enid, look, I’m . . . I know you’re . . . Damn! How did we get so screwed up?”
Enid laughed softly, in spite of the ache in her heart. “Yeah, we really messed it up this time.” She added in a more serious tone, “You were handling the bills. Why didn’t you tell me we were behind? Maybe we could have done something.”
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