by JP Ratto
He rose and turned to Maeve. Stunned to see her angry look, he was speechless.
“You’ve ruined it, Todd.”
“Ruined what?”
“You touched the knife! Your fingerprints are on it.”
“Mine? What about yours?”
She held up her hands. “I’m wearing gloves.”
Grayson closed his eyes to gather his thoughts. “Maeve, you just killed a woman! You have to leave. I’ll take care of this.”
“You shouldn’t have touched the knife.”
“I need to protect you.”
“I don’t want your protection, Todd. I was taking care of it just fine before you came.”
He shook his head. “Maeve, what are you saying? What are you doing in New York?”
“I’ve been here for a few days. You never call me, so how would you know where I am? I’m tired of being left in Maryland while you come here and…and…do this!” Maeve waved her arms around and then stared at Sheila Rand. “I’m the one protecting you, Todd. Protecting all of us. Protecting your future.”
“This is not the way to do it, Maeve. How did you find out?”
“Janet Maxell.”
“What?”
“I know all about her, Todd. She’s crazy, you know. Calling the house and hanging up. I knew it was her. I decided to see for myself what was going on. It was easy enough to find out where she lived. It’s so convenient that you keep all your women within close proximity. Are you still paying for that apartment?”
Grayson remained silent; he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He’d recently had a heated conversation with Maxwell. She accused him of replacing her with another woman. Had she been keeping tabs on him?
Maeve continued. “I was going to confront Janet when I saw her leave her apartment. It was late, and I wondered where she was going. So I followed her here.”
Grayson found his voice. “And were you planning to kill her too?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Todd. Janet came here to kill your whore—at least she tried. I just finished the job.”
“Janet did this to her?” Grayson asked, taking in Sheila’s torn clothes, matted hair, and wounds on her arms and torso.
“Yes, I followed her inside and waited down the hall, out of sight, for a while. I heard arguing and then she came rushing out. She looked agitated. I thought I saw blood on her clothes. She left, and I came in here.”
“Why didn’t you call for an ambulance and leave? Why ‘finish the job’?”
“Because Ms. Rand knew too much. She was rambling on about things Janet told her. About your relationship—about your child.”
His stomach churned with nausea. Grayson thought he might pass out. Because of his sick needs and selfishness, his wife had resorted to murder to protect him.
“Maeve, I’m so sorry. I’ll make this up to you. Now, please go. Where are you staying? I’ll meet you there when I’m done here.”
“Never mind, Todd. I’m going home.”
“I love you, Maeve.”
Maeve Grayson stared at him, and without another word turned and left. Grayson called Douglas Cain. When he arrived, he told his lawyer everything that had happened—everything except that Maeve had been there.
Grayson lay in dark silence. Douglas, why didn’t you get rid of the damn knife? Drained, he pulled the thin bedcover up to his chin. His life had caught up to him and he was paying the price. He wouldn’t regret what he’d done to protect his family. He wouldn’t allow Maeve to suffer any more. He wasn’t a complete cad.
Senator Todd Grayson eased his head deeper into the pillow. He erased all thoughts except one. The image of his wife’s grasp on the knife used to inflict Sheila Rand’s fatal wound. The memory would remain a prisoner of his mind for the rest of his life.
Chapter 43
In spite of all that was going on, I had still managed a trip back to Elmira the day after Cain died. Maddie and I drove upstate to the Turners’ home. I had a polite meeting with Hugh Turner, who Maddie observed had transformed in appearance and demeanor from when she’d met him. His son’s near drug overdose was sobering for him in many ways.
I respected Turner for taking in my daughter and providing her a home. Spending time with him in the presence of his family, I knew he’d not been a hands-on father to Jane or his other children. In a way, it left the door open for me to fill that role in my daughter’s life.
During the weeks that followed, I’d spent as much time as I could with Jane. I also received the results of a paternity test I’d requested and the Turners insisted upon. I broke the news to her while she was with Maddie and me at my brownstone for a long weekend.
We’d come back from an afternoon of sightseeing and eating the best pizza in New York City. Sitting in the kitchen with coffee and a box of fresh cannoli, I removed a sheet of paper from the envelope I received from the lab. I handed it to Jane. “These are the results of the paternity test.” Jane took time to read a few paragraphs. I knew she would understand what they meant. I said it aloud anyway. “It proves you’re my daughter.”
She looked up and smiled. “You’re my father.”
It was wonderful hearing her say that and left me with a lump in my throat.
“I’ve been thinking,” she said, laying the paper on the breakfast bar. “I kind of like the name Marnie. My mother told me Jane was the name I had when they adopted me. She isn’t sure why they never renamed me. I guess they thought it was as good a name as any. It always made me think of Jane Doe—someone who has no identity.” She paused and looked straight at me. “What I’m saying is I wouldn’t mind if you wanted to call me Marnie.”
That was the moment I became whole again. Marnie was home.
I reached over, and with one arm brought her close for a quick hug and a kiss to her temple. “I’d love to call you Marnie.”
I left the girls to themselves while I went to my office to take care of some business I’d been neglecting. After sending a couple of emails, I relaxed at my desk and glanced around the room that had been my sanctuary for so many years—where I’d drown myself in work and, occasionally, in scotch. The box containing copies of the Sheila Rand case files stood in the corner where I’d left it three months before. I opened it, removed a few pages at a time, and sent them through the shredder. Case closed.
On my way downstairs, I could hear Maddie and Marnie laughing. The sound made my heart swell. I was glad the two were getting along so well. They were in the living room, and Marnie stood when I entered. She came over and hugged me.
“I’m tired. Mind if I go to bed?”
I looked at Maddie, who raised an eyebrow and gave me a crooked smile.
“No, honey, go ahead. I’ll see you in the morning.”
As I watched her go upstairs, Maddie moved to stand close to me. I put an arm around her shoulders. “I can’t tell you how much I miss her whenever she goes home. Even though I know she’ll be back on the weekend.”
Maddie slipped her arm around my waist and guided me to the living room. Before I sat down, I turned on the stereo. The system is wired to play downstairs and in my bedroom. As usual, I had Louie Armstrong cued up in my list of favorites. He crooned softly in the background as we lounged on the sofa. Maddie took my hand. “We had a nice talk while you were upstairs, Lucas. Marnie said she’s seriously considering doing her senior year in Manhattan—if you really want her here with you.”
“If? September can’t come soon enough.”
I was grinning like a loon when I caught the shimmer in Maddie’s eyes. She turned away. I took her in my arms. “Hey, is something wrong? I thought you’d be happy for me.”
She tipped her head up and pecked me on the lips. “Of course I’m happy for you. It’s just…”
“What?” I asked and pressed my lips against her forehead.
“I don’t want to intrude on your reunion with Marnie.”
“And you aren’t.”
Maddie gently pushed away from me. “L
ucas, I’ve been doing some thinking, and I’m ready to leave Broome. I need a change. I want to start over somewhere else.”
For a split second, I felt the pang of loss. “Where would you go? I thought things were going well between us.”
Maddie gave my chest a slight shove with the palm of her hand. “I’m not leaving you. I would like to move here—to the city.”
I exhaled my relief and stood. “That sounds great. I thought…”
“I know.”
“I need a drink.”
Maddie stood, and before I could take a step, she wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me. “I need you.”
I hesitated and looked at the ceiling. Maddie laughed. “You’re not worried about what Marnie will think, are you?”
“I’m not sure.” I must have sounded like a schoolboy contemplating his first kiss.
“Believe me, Lucas, she’ll be fine.”
I smiled. “I thought you didn’t like that word.” For that, I received another punch in the shoulder.
“How about a drink and…” I winked.
Maddie nodded and began to undo the buttons on her blouse. “I’ll be upstairs.”
I grabbed a bottle of red wine, corkscrew, and two glasses. As I bolted up the stairs, Louie Armstrong and I were in perfect harmony as I thought to myself, What a Wonderful World.
The End
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About the Authors
JP Ratto is a husband and wife collaborative writing team. STOP AT NOTHING is the third book in a series featuring private investigator Lucas Holt. The first two Lucas Holt novels are EVERYTHING TO LOSE and TRUST NO ONE.
Judy’s career began as a children’s author. She attended Hofstra University’s Writing for Children Intensive in the summer of 2010. She has written an upper middle-grade fantasy adventure and a children’s mystery chapter book. Judy also does free-lance editing.
Pete Ratto, a former member of the U.S. Navy serving half his enlistment with the U.S. Marine Corp, is a retired corporate accountant and is now writing full time.
Both are avid readers of mysteries, thrillers, and suspense. Active in a critique group made up of local authors, they enjoy discussions on all aspects of the craft of writing. Pete enjoys photography, writing and going to the beach. In her spare time, Judy paints watercolors. They have two grown children, a son, and a daughter. Pete and Judy live in southern Florida with their cats, Gillian and Molly.
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www.jpratto.com
