Murder in Madden

by Raegan Teller

  Enid gave Ray an awkward hug. “The copper urn you bought for Cassie was beautiful. That was very generous of you.” During the service, when the sun had hit the urn a certain way, it was as if the urn glowed with Cassie’s spirit. Now, it was merely cold metal.

  “In some way, I felt responsible for Cassie’s death,” said Ray. “If I had not been late to pick up Rosie, she wouldn’t have gotten in the car with Molly that day.”

  Enid wanted to comfort him, to tell him that life is full of regrets and what-if-I had-done-something-different recriminations. She also wanted to tell him that she knew firsthand how guilt could eat you alive if you let it. Instead, she remained silent and allowed him time to collect his thoughts.

  Ray put his hands in his pockets and lowered his head. “I wish I had pushed my father to do a more thorough investigation of Rosie’s murder. Maybe if I had, Molly would have been arrested and Cassie would still be alive. My being late to pick up Rosie set two tragedies in motion—one immediate and one ten years later.”

  “None of it was your fault.” Enid knew Ray needed time and space to work through his role in all of the events that had transpired—just as she did. “Why don’t you stay with me and Jack to scatter Cassie’s ashes?”

  “No, but thanks.” Ray lowered his head and walked away.

  * * *

  The sunlight was fading across Glitter Lake by the time Jack and Enid walked down to the water’s edge in silence. There was not much left to be said.

  Jack broke the silence first. “Shall we do this now?”

  The wind blew and Enid shivered slightly. “Cassie loved sunsets on the lake.”

  Jack pushed the small rowboat into the edge of the water and then helped Enid get in. He then rowed them a short distance from shore. “I want her to be close to the inn,” he said.

  Enid nodded in agreement.

  Jack took the cover off the urn and waited for the breeze to die down before he leaned over and poured the gray ashes into the water. “Goodbye, my love.”

  “I’ll miss you, Cassie,” said Enid, as she watched the ashes floating to the bottom of Glitter Lake.

  The last rays of daylight had sunk behind the trees by the time they walked up the path to the inn. Jack put the empty urn on the table in the library. They had agreed to place a memorial bench near the shore of the lake and bury the empty urn beneath it.

  “Cassie left me the inn, you know,” said Jack.

  “I’m glad. What will you do with it?”

  “I can’t think about that now. There’s plenty of time to decide.”

  “I need to go up and pack my things.”

  “You can stay at my house tonight,” said Jack.

  “Are you sure? I can head back to Charlotte tonight. Both Molly and Eddie are in jail, so I’ll be safe on the road now.”

  Jack laughed softly. “Yeah, and I heard Eddie was spilling his guts about paying Chief Jensen to look the other way regarding his drug business. Eddie is trying to cut a deal, or so I heard.” Jack motioned toward the porch off the library. “I’ll wait out here and watch the sunset while you pack.”

  Later, as they drove away from the inn, Enid looked back at the dark mansion. If buildings could weep, this one was surely crying for the loss of its beloved owner.

  CHAPTER 63

  The following week, Rosie’s remains were moved from the neglected Pinewood Cemetery to the pristine church cemetery. A dozen or so people gathered for the reburial service. When the wind blew slightly, a few large oak leaves drifted to earth, signaling the early signs of fall. One landed on Rosie’s beautiful mahogany casket.

  Cade was on the other side of the grave beside his mother. Fern was dressed in the Sunday uniform—a navy sheath and a single strand of pearls. She nabbed at her eyes with a lace handkerchief. Cade looked across the grave at Enid, and for a brief moment they locked eyes.

  Rachel Anderson stood behind the others, watching from a distance. Enid could only imagine the emotional turmoil Rachel must be going through.

  After the church’s minister said a few words over Rosie’s grave, Enid walked over to where Cade and Fern were standing. The right words wouldn’t come to Enid, so she took Fern’s hands in hers and kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you for getting permission from the church to bury Rosie here. I know she’s truly at peace now.”

  Fern’s voice cracked as she spoke. “It seemed like the least I could do.”

  “I’ll be happy to help pay for the exhumation and reburial,” said Enid. She was broke, but she would find the money somehow.

  Cade put his hand on Enid’s arm. “That won’t be necessary. Mother wanted to handle it herself.”

  Fern looked at Cade. “I’m tired. Can we please go now?”

  “May I have a minute before you go? Enid said to Fern. “We can sit over here.”

  The two women walked over to a bench and sat, and Cade walked away.

  “I’m sorry for the pain I’ve caused you. Can you forgive me?” said Enid.

  Fern pushed away a piece of hair the wind had blown across her face. Her hands were shaking slightly. “My dear, we’ve both made mistakes we can’t undo. There wasn’t a day that went by I didn’t think of Rosie. I regret that I orchestrated the lies that caused her to mistrust her family. I was wrong.”

  “I realize now that you acted out of love. You wanted Rosie to have as normal a life as possible.”

  “I didn’t give Rosie enough credit for her strength. She could have handled the truth, if I had let her. That’s something I have to live with.” Fern patted Enid’s leg and smiled slightly. “You’re strong, too. I wish I had helped you more with your research. I’d like to contribute what I can. Just come see me, and we’ll have a long chat about Rosie and the family. No more secrets.”

  Enid hugged her. “Thanks. I’d like that.”

  “I wish you and Cade could work things out. But that’s for you two to decide, so I’m staying out of it. Now I’m going to go before we both get too maudlin.” Fern motioned for Cade, and he helped her walk to the car. She looked frail.

  Enid watched as Cade helped his mother into the black limousine parked at the curb of the narrow road that meandered through the church cemetery. A funeral attendant, dressed in a crisp black suit and standing erect, shut the door after Fern was settled. Cade spoke to the driver and then walked back to the bench where Enid was sitting.

  They both started to talk at once. “You go first,” said Cade.

  “I just wanted to say how sorry I am for all the pain I caused you and Fern. Can you ever forgive me?”

  He put his hand on top of Enid’s and looked into her eyes. “You always were the troublemaker in the family.” He smiled. “Actually, that’s one of the many things I love about you.”

  “You used present tense. Does that mean you still love me?”

  He kissed her gently on the lips. “Always.” Cade stood up and took Enid’s hands in his and pulled her up to face him.

  Being this close to Cade, yet so distant, made Enid’s heart ache. “Maybe we can try again one day.”

  He let go of her hands. “One day. Perhaps.” He turned and walked back to the waiting limousine.

  * * *

  After Cade left, Jack walked over to Enid. “You okay?”

  Enid forced a smile. “Yes.”

  He put his hand on Enid’s arm. “Let’s walk back over to the grave.”

  Most of the people had left. The casket had been lowered into the cool earth, and grave diggers were covering it with dirt.

  “Can you imagine what Fern must have paid for that solid mahogany casket?” asked Jack.

  Enid looked down into the grave. “Don’t worry. She can afford it.” Enid walked over to the tall black granite headstone. She ran her hand across the newly engraved inscription.

  Rose Marie Garrett

  Gone, But Not Forgotten

  Enid buried her face in Jack’s shoulder and wept. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her. “
Here, blow your nose before you ruin my only nice suit.”

  Enid laughed and cried simultaneously. “I seem to be good at ruining things.”

  Jack put his hands on her shoulders and looked her in the eyes. “Now look here. No pity parties. I won’t have it.”

  Enid pulled away and looked up at Jack. “Rosie is at peace now, but everything else is in turmoil.”

  “Cassie told me how proud she was that you didn’t back down from Chief Jensen when he tried to bully you. She told me you were braver than I was in pursuing the truth. She was right. You are braver.” He smiled. “Or at least stubborner.”

  Enid blew her nose with the handkerchief. “I’ve even messed up your handkerchief.” She folded it into a square. “I’ll clean it and get it back to you. Or get you a new one.”

  “I’ll hold you to that.”

  “Would you and Cassie have gotten married?”

  Jack shrugged. “Who knows. We both agreed to take it slow and see what simmered. Or if it simmered. We knew we might be better off as friends than anything more serious.” He sighed. “I’d like to think we could have made it, though.”

  “I appreciate your putting me up, but I’ll be leaving tomorrow.”

  “You going home to Charlotte?”

  Enid nodded. “One of Cade’s friends is buying our house, so we need to close quickly.” She watched the funeral workers take up the folding chairs and roll up the artificial turf.

  “Then what will you do?”

  Enid watched the workers finish closing the grave. They would dispassionately move on to their next job, but Enid had no idea what the next step would be for her.

  “I don’t know. We’ll see.” Enid sighed. “I need to go see Rachel before I leave.”

  “Want me to go with you?”

  Enid shook her head. “No, I need to do this alone.” She stepped back away from Jack. “But thanks.”

  Enid watched as Jack walked back to his car with his head lowered.

  CHAPTER 64

  Enid didn’t want to show up at Rachel’s house without notice, but Rachel had not returned any of her calls. Enid couldn’t bear the thought of leaving Madden without talking with her, or at least trying to. She also wanted to return Rosie’s box of keepsakes to Rachel.

  Enid knocked on the front door, its dark green paint peeling in places. Rachel’s car was in the driveway but there was no sound of anyone inside the house. Enid knocked again. “Rachel, it’s Enid Blackwell. Please let me talk with you, for just a minute.” No sound from inside. “I’m leaving Madden today.” Enid turned to leave and was walking back to her car when she heard the squeak of door hinges. She turned around and saw Rachel standing in the doorway.

  “I can’t talk right now,” said Rachel.

  Enid resisted the urge to walk closer to Rachel for fear she would slam the door. “I understand. But I’m leaving Madden, and I just wanted to talk to you. I promise to be brief.”

  Rachel opened the front door and stepped aside.

  “Thank you,” Enid said as she walked up the steps and went inside.

  The modest home was clean and neat. Rachel sat in one of the living room chairs, and Enid sat on the sofa, careful not to get too close for fear of making Rachel uncomfortable.

  Rachel sat silently with her hands in her lap.

  “I don’t know what to say,” said Enid. “To say I’m sorry seems terribly inadequate. No matter what Molly did, I wish none of this had happened.” The dull ache in Enid’s heart became a stabbing pain, and she began to question the wisdom of seeing Rachel again. What good could come from it? “Before I leave Madden, I just wanted to see if there is anything I can do for you.”

  Enid hated how cold and impersonal that sounded, like something you say to people when you don’t know what else to say. “And to let you know I’ve decided not to write Rosie’s story. It was a mistake for me to dig up the past.” She looked at the young woman across from her, but it was Cassie’s face that flashed before her eyes. “In the beginning, I was more worried about reviving my career than I was about Rosie. I’m not proud of that.”

  Rachel briefly looked up at Enid but remained silent.

  Enid continued. “But then I got to know the real Rosie.” She handed Rosie’s box to Rachel. “Here, I wanted to return this.”

  Rachel looked at the box but made no attempt to take it.

  “In the end, I really wanted everyone else to know the Rosie who was your cousin and best friend. You made the story complete, and I want to thank you.”

  Rachel continued to stare at Enid without saying anything, so Enid set Rosie’s box on the table next to the sofa and got up to leave.

  “Wait,” Rachel said softly.

  Enid eased back down onto the sofa.

  “You think I hate you for what happened. But I don’t.” Rachel clasped her hands tightly in her lap. “I hate my mother for killing Rosie.”

  Enid wasn’t sure what to say, even though a thousand thoughts tumbled around in her head. “I’m sure it was a shock to you. In fact, I can’t imagine what—”

  “I knew it.” Rachel sat up in her chair and pulled back her shoulders. “And Mama knew I knew, but we never talked about it.”

  Rachel’s admission caught Enid off-guard. “How did you know?”

  “Right after Rosie got killed, Mama started acting different. You know, all happy-like. Mama told me Rosie got what she deserved, and she was glad she was dead. In my heart, I just knew she did it.” Rachel’s confession hung in the air like an acrid fog.

  Enid searched for words but nothing seemed appropriate.

  “I want you to write about Rosie. She deserves it, and I’m glad you stuck with it.” Rachel came over to the sofa and sat beside Enid, putting her hands on Rosie’s box and stroking it gently. “You keep this. She would want you to have it.”

  Enid impulsively reached over and hugged Rachel. For a few minutes, the two woman held each other, drawn together by the loss of their mothers, both ravished by cruel circumstances. Enid’s mother had been consumed by cancer, her frail body eventually succumbing to the disease inside her. Molly had been consumed by a disease too. Molly’s determination to protect Rachel from Rosie, even if her fears were unwarranted, had eventually metastasized into hatred. In in the end, neither Enid’s mother nor Rachel’s was able to fight off the beast growing inside.

  Rachel got up and got a box of tissues and handed it to Enid. “I was ashamed to tell anyone about Mama killing Rosie. I couldn’t prove it, but maybe if I had told someone, Miss Cassie might still be alive.”

  “Please don’t think that way. I understand why you didn’t say anything.” Enid paused. “If I write this story, you’ll be in the spotlight again, and you may not want that kind of attention.” Enid had learned firsthand what living in a small town was like, and she knew this was the only place Rachel had ever lived. “I don’t want you to have to leave Madden.”

  Rachel straightened up as though she was bracing for what would come next in her already troubled life. “It’s over for me here anyway. Just tell everyone Rosie was a good person.”

  Enid smiled. “I will.” Enid studied Rachel’s face for signs of reluctance, but all Enid saw was a courageous young woman’s determination. “When I write Rosie’s story, I want you to read it before I send it in. Is that a deal?”

  Rachel smiled slightly for the first time since Enid had arrived. “Okay, if you want me to.”

  “I do.” Enid stood up. “Well, I need to get on the road.”

  “You going back home, to Charlotte?”

  Enid nodded. “I won’t be there long, but I’ll let you know where I end up.”

  The two women hugged again before Enid left. As she walked back to her car, she looked back over her shoulder at Rachel, who seemed so much older than when Enid first met her.

  CHAPTER 65

  Jack helped Enid put the last of her things in the car and shut the rear hatch. “They did a good job on your car.” He ran his hand along
the side. “You can’t tell it was wrecked.”

  “I’ll have to sell it and get something cheaper.” Enid opened the driver’s side door. “Well, I guess this is it.”

  Jack held the door for her. “I heard they’ve got some great handkerchief shops in Charleston. You owe me a new one.”

  “No one has handkerchief shops, not in this country. Not even Charleston.” She searched his face. “What are you saying?”

  Jack took her hands in his. “I’m saying that you need to go with me to work on this story I’m doing for the State newspaper.”

  “You’re working again? What about the inn?”

  Jack rubbed his neck. “Ah, yes. The inn. Well I’ve never fancied myself an innkeeper.” He paused. “Hey, how would you like—

  Enid held up her hand. “No, thanks. Don’t even go there.”

  Jack shrugged. “Just thought you might like to make some money, maybe get to keep your car.”

  Enid just shook her head.

  “I do have to decide what to do with the inn. Cassie loved that place so much. I can’t bear the thought of selling it. Madelyn is searching to see if there are any relatives who are more deserving, but so far, she hasn’t found any heirs.”

  Enid shook her head. “Cassie said she had no family. I guess that’s one reason we became friends. Neither of us had anyone left.”

  “Well, unless I can find someone who’ll buy it and keep it open, I’ll just sit on it for a little while. It’s a shame—Cassie worked so hard on the renovations. I’ve postponed the reopening indefinitely, of course.” He kicked at a small rock with his foot. As far as my work, I’m doing some freelance work for some buddies that need a stringer. I’m not ready for the nine-to-five grind again, but I need something to occupy my mind.”

  Enid put her hand on Jack’s arm. “Just remember Cassie’s big smile and even bigger heart. And think about the message from her favorite poem I read at the memorial service.”

  Jack nodded. “I will.”

  “I can’t thank you enough, and Cade too, for convincing the State newspaper to run my series on Rosie. But I think Helen and your friends at the Madden Gazette will be upset with me for not giving them an exclusive.”