by J A Whiting
“Meaning what?” Brad asked.
“No one was allowed to talk about what they saw at the house. Nothing about the construction was to be discussed with anyone outside the project.”
“That’s strange isn’t it? It’s not usual, is it?” Olivia asked.
“No,” Joe replied. “It’s not usual, but it’s not completely unheard of. Many wealthy people guard their privacy with a vengeance. Or some fear that their homes will be copied and believe doing so will cheapen the value if the design is compromised and repeated.”
“Alexei was furious when I told him that some construction people had been talking in town about the renovations here,” Olivia said.
“You didn’t mention Mike Sullivan’s name, did you, Liv?” Joe asked, concern written on his face.
“No, absolutely not. Anyway, it isn’t only your friend talking about this place. Magdalene Streeter was just talking about the supposed safe room earlier this evening. Rumors run wild, especially when things are shrouded in such mystery,” Olivia said.
“Something seems very off with these people,” Brad said. “What does this guy do?”
“International businessman,” Joe replied.
“That’s pretty vague,” Olivia stated. “But not as vague as Alexei’s answer when I asked him where he called home. Why so secretive? It’s just a simple question…‘where are you from?’ But he wouldn’t answer.”
“I don’t know,” said Brad. “Seems to me there is more going on here. International businessman? Maybe international thief? International smuggler?”
“Brad,” Olivia said. “Keep your voice down. This outside space is probably bugged too.”
“You ever hear the saying…‘behind every great fortune are even greater crimes’?” Joe asked.
“These people give me the creeps,” Olivia said.
“I think I’ve had enough of the Siderovs’ hospitality,” Brad said. “How about we call it a night?”
Joe and Olivia agreed and the three of them walked to the front of the house. Brad handed the car claim ticket to the valet and they were home in under ten minutes.
Chapter 16
They changed clothes and made coffee and carried their mugs into the yard to sit by Joe’s fire pit. They leaned back in their chairs and watched the stars shining in the night sky.
“Did you have a nice time with Magdalene Streeter?” Brad asked, smiling.
“Thanks for letting her get her claws into me. I’ll remember how you deserted me,” Joe said. “It was the usual. Trying to get me to sell. Also trying to get me to convince Liv to sell. The woman is relentless.” Joe let out a deep breath. “She didn’t seem to know anything about the cross necklace.”
“No she didn’t,” Brad said. He glanced at Olivia. “Are you awake?”
“I’m thinking.”
“Uh oh,” Joe said. “Means trouble.”
“What are you thinking about?” Brad asked.
“The past couple of weeks…all the things that have happened,” Olivia said. “I feel like I need a chart to keep things straight. All these loose ends…they must be parts of a common thread.” Olivia continued, “Aggie is connected to the mess of it all.”
“Liv…” Joe started. “Nothing seems to add up. Magdalene Streeter can’t be behind it. It’s just too far fetched. How could Aggie be connected to Martin Andersen? How could their deaths be connected in any way?”
“Joe, nobody gets murdered in this town,” Olivia said. “And then there are two murders within a month.”
“Aggie had a heart attack.”
Olivia cut Joe off. “Then why did she have a gun in her dresser? Why was my picture in Andersen’s wallet? My name and address? Aggie could have given it to him.”
Joe didn’t answer.
“Somebody killed her,” Olivia said. “And I’m going to find out who and why. Somehow.” She shifted her gaze to the darkened sea. “If only she hadn’t been cremated. We could ask to have her body exhumed. Make the coroner inspect the body for foul play.” Olivia let a long sigh. “All of this. It’s like scenes in a dream. I just need to pull it together.” She paused. “But the more I think about everything, the more I feel like its just water running through my hands.”
“I think you’re right, Liv,” Brad said. “The circumstances of the two deaths…and just a month apart…it has to be more than coincidence.”
Olivia nodded at Brad. “I need your help. To figure this out.”
She looked across the fire pit to Joe. “I need you’re help too, old man.”
“I was afraid of that,” Joe replied. “And don’t call me old man.” Joe took a deep breath. “Well, it’s way past my bedtime anyway. We may as well stay up all night.” Joe stood up from the chair. “Come on, children. Why don’t we go inside and write down what we know. Maybe putting it on paper will help shed some light on all of this.”
Olivia bolted upright and knocked her coffee mug off the arm of her chair onto the grass. “Dmitri Siderov,” she exclaimed.
“What? So?” Brad said.
“Dmitri Siderov. The cross necklace. The letter ‘S’ is engraved on it. Could it be his necklace?” Olivia asked.
The three stared at each other.
“Siderov?” Joe said, sitting back down.
“How would Andersen have had it if it belonged to Siderov?” Brad asked.
“He lived next door. The Siderovs wanted Andersen’s house. Things got testy between them. I don’t know. Somehow Martin got hold of it. It’s possible, isn’t it?” Olivia said excitedly.
“So what happened? Siderov gave Andersen the necklace?” Brad asked, confused.
Olivia stood up and walked back and forth, her mind racing. “No, no. It wouldn’t have been a gift. They hated each other,” Olivia said.
“Rodney Hannigan said that Andersen and Siderov never met,” Joe said. “There was an intermediary who made the offers for the house.”
Olivia paced faster. “Yeah, Rodney said they’d never met,” she said to no one in particular. “But…the necklace could belong to Siderov. It’s clear that Andersen slipped the necklace to me. He didn’t just hand it to me. He needed to hide it.”
Joe said slowly, “Liv, maybe the necklace was in Andersen’s hand at the accident. Maybe when he was clutching at you, it just fell into your pocket. Maybe he never intended to drop it. Or give it to you.”
Olivia stopped and stared at Joe. She was quiet. She had never considered the option that Joe proposed. She sat back down. “That’s possible.” She turned her head to the ocean. “So maybe this necklace thing means nothing at all. Maybe he didn’t pass it to me in secret.” She looked down at her hands. “Maybe Aggie just died of a heart attack like the police said.” Olivia’s shoulders were hunched.
Brad piped up. “But why was Andersen’s tongue cut out? He had been shot, for God’s sake. Why did that guy at the scene scare Andersen so much?”
Olivia lifted her eyes to Brad’s.
Brad went on, “What if…what if that guy at the scene was there before you?”
Olivia leaned forward. “I thought I saw a man there when I got to the accident. I thought I saw someone running away from Andersen’s car. But it was so dark and I was focused on Martin. I can’t be sure if I saw someone or not.”
Brad’s talked faster. “What if that guy was the one who cut out Andersen’s tongue?” He stood up. “That’s why Andersen panicked when the guy showed up again.”
Olivia straightened up. “What if the necklace belonged to that guy? Maybe Andersen didn’t want him to get it back, so he slipped it into my pocket.”
Joe’s voice was weary. “I don’t know. Maybe you two have seen too many detective shows.”
“It makes sense, Joe. As soon as the guy appears, Andersen freaks,” Brad said. “He didn’t want that guy to get the necklace. Or he was afraid the guy was going to kill him.”
Olivia nodded. “You’re right, Brad. The guy at the scene…he’s a link. Why didn’t I think of
this before?”
Brad was excited. “Maybe the guy caused the accident. Maybe he was chasing Andersen. Maybe he shot Andersen. Maybe he was after the necklace. What if he saw how badly hurt Andersen was, cut out the tongue, then came back again to check to be sure he was dead?” Brad’s eyes widened. “What if the guy is working with Siderov?”
“This is crazy,” Joe said.
“It fits, Joe,” Olivia told him.
“I could come up with a number of scenarios that fit,” Joe replied. “You two are going off half-cocked. Just because the cross has an ‘S’ on it doesn’t link it to Siderov. It could belong to anyone.” He leaned forward. “We wondered if it belonged to Magdalene Streeter. Her last name starts with an ‘S’. She loves jewelry. She’s supposed to be in financial distress. She had a run in with Mrs. Callas. She wants us to sell our houses. She must want to sell Andersen’s house too. Maybe she represents Siderov. Let’s list everyone in town whose name starts with “S”. I bet we can come up with any number of reasons why they could be behind all this.”
Olivia and Brad stared at Joe, processing what he suggested. A shadow of uncertainty flickered over Olivia’s face. “That guy who showed up at the accident was frightening, Joe. I felt in danger. Mortal danger. The way Martin Andersen reacted to him tells me there is reason to suspect him.”
“We need to find out who he is,” Brad said.
“How?” Joe asked.
Brad turned to Olivia . “You think you saw him in Boston.”
Olivia nodded.
“You were followed on the highway,” Brad went on. “Maybe this guy was watching you. He might have wanted to frighten you…or find out what you were up to… find out what you knew.”
“Yes. That could be,” Olivia said.
“You haven’t seen him since?” Brad asked.
“No. I haven’t. We need to find out who he is.”
“Maybe we could draw him out again,” Brad said.
Olivia’s face was questioning.
“Maybe we could do something to get him to show himself again,” Brad thought out loud.
“How?” Olivia asked.
“What if we put an ad in the town paper? Describing the necklace. You know, like a lost and found ad. Say you found it and are looking for the rightful owner.”
“No.” Joe’s voice was loud. “I don’t like this. You could be putting Liv in danger.”
“Joe, I thought you believed this was just our imaginations?” Brad asked.
“Well, if it isn’t…” Joe said more quietly. “No one knows you have that necklace. It could put you in danger to make it public knowledge.”
Olivia touched Joe’s arm. “This whole thing is upsetting to all of us. You know that I feel an obligation to Andersen. That I need to find out if he was trying to tell me something…or not. He and Aggie were connected somehow. Maybe Aggie gave him my name. Maybe that’s how he had my name in his wallet.” Olivia shifted her eyes to the ground. “The most important thing of all…maybe I can figure out what happened to Aggie.” She raised her head. “I need to find out, Joe.”
“I know.” Joe’s voice was soft. “But I’m afraid.” Joe’s eyes pierced Olivia’s. “I’m afraid we’re getting in this mess too deep.” He paused. “I’m afraid of losing you, too,” Joe said, his voice cracking.
Olivia knelt next to Joe’s chair and wrapped him in her arms. “I’m not going anywhere. Nothing’s going to happen to me.” Joe blinked at her. “You’re stuck with me,” she said.
Joe cleared his throat and sighed. “Okay, come on. Let’s go inside and use the laptop. Let’s see what we can find out about Siderov. And maybe we can write up an ad together for the newspaper…about that damn necklace.”
***
Inside Joe’s house, the three sat around Joe’s laptop and Googled Siderov’s name. “How can there be nothing of importance about this guy?” Brad asked. “Especially if he is an international businessman.”
“Only pictures and articles about him at charity events, country clubs, golf tournaments.” Olivia said.
Joe shrugged. “What do we expect to find?”
“Why don’t you Google Martin Andersen and his company,” Brad suggested. “Maybe there will be a link between him and Siderov somehow.”
Joe keyed the name into the search engine.
“I did Google him, Brad. Nothing like that came up,” Olivia said.
“Well, here’s a picture of Andersen and Hannigan at some charity event,” Joe said squinting at the screen. “Caption says, ‘Martin Andersen of Andersen Financial of Boston and S. Rodney Hannigan of the law firm Hannigan, Windsor and Riley of Boston attended the…”
“Wait,” Olivia said. “Did you say ‘S. Rodney Hannigan’?” Olivia peered over Joe’s shoulder to get closer to the computer screen. She stood straight. “’S’?” She and Brad exchanged looks. “S. Rodney Hannigan?”
“Did the cross necklace belong to Hannigan?” Joe asked.
“When I spoke with him, he didn’t acknowledge the necklace. I asked him about it. I asked, did Martin own a gold cross necklace? He said ‘no’.”
The three of them stared at each other, each one considering.
“Do you think he lied to me?” Olivia asked quietly.
“That’s a good question,” Brad said.
“You asked him if Andersen had a necklace, you didn’t ask Hannigan if he owned a necklace,” Joe pointed out. “Maybe he omitted that information. Conveniently.”
“What if Hannigan is behind all of this?” Brad asked. “What if he killed Martin Andersen?”
“Ugh.” Joe whispered. “His own partner?”
Olivia’s eyes went wide, and she shook her head. “No, I don’t believe Rodney is guilty. What connection would he have with Aggie’s death? He seems too sincere in his loss.”
“Maybe he’s a good actor,” Brad suggested.
“It’s just a coincidence that his name starts with an ‘S’,” Olivia told them. “But, I’ll make an appointment with him to speak face to face. I want to ask him where he was the night that Martin was killed. And I want to see his reaction when I show him the gold cross necklace.”
“Maybe that’s not a good idea. If he’s involved…” Joe cautioned.
“I’ll meet him at his Boston office,” Olivia said. “Nothing can happen to me in the offices of that large law firm.”
Chapter 17
The next day Olivia was back at work in the antique store. The painting of the shop walls had gone much more slowly than Olivia had thought it would. The store space wasn’t that large, but the walls had windows on two sides, crown moulding along the ceiling, and some built-in cases attached to the walls that required precise and careful painting around many edges. Olivia had been painting and cleaning for a full week.
It was just before ten at night when Olivia completed the last display case. She was pleased with the way the shop looked. Tomorrow she would tackle assessing the inventory and cleaning the interior of the cases. She thought that she would be able to open the shop in another week. She took the brushes and paint cans to the back room and put the brushes in the sink. She wiped off the excess paint around the rim of the can and put the cover in place. She used paper towels to squeeze out extra paint from the brushes, and turned the faucet on to let water run through the brush bristles. She glanced out the little window above the sink. A plain white van had stopped at the corner to let some people cross the street on their way back from the restaurants in Perkins Cove. The back door of the van opened with a jolt and a young woman who looked to be in her late twenties, wearing a cotton shirt, jeans, and flip flops, jumped out and started to run to the sidewalk. The passenger door flew open and a man lurched for the woman and caught her by the arm. A chill ran down Olivia’s arms and she turned off the sink water, anticipating that she might need to call 911. The woman stood in a stance of defiance and yanked her arm out of the man’s grasp. He slapped her across the face, the force of it knocking her back a step. The
woman stood still and slowly turned her face back to the man, her hands clenched by her side. She spit onto the sidewalk in front of him. The man’s arm twitched as if he might strike her again, but another group of people turned the corner and walked past them. The man said something that Olivia couldn’t hear. The woman reached for the rear passenger side door, slid it back, and climbed into the van. As the man turned to take his seat in the front of the van, the streetlight illuminated his face. Olivia dropped the brush she was holding. It was Alexei.
The van drove away just as a knock sounded on the front door of the shop. Olivia jumped and her heart thudded against her chest. She peered around the corner from the back room and saw Brad at the front door. She let out a big sigh and went to let him in.
“Hey,” Brad said. “I knew you’d be working late, so I …” Brad’s smile vanished. “You ok?”
“Yeah,” Olivia said stepping back so Brad could come in. “I just saw something strange though.” She led Brad to the back room and indicated the small window over the sink. “I was cleaning brushes in the sink and looked out the window. A van stopped at the corner. A woman jumped out the back of the van. She looked like she wanted to get away. A guy got out of the front…the passenger side, and he grabbed her, very rough and mean.” Olivia paused for a breath.
“What happened?” Brad asked.
“The woman didn’t fight or anything. It was hard to see her face because of the dark, but she seemed kind of…defiant, I guess. She pulled her arm out of the guy’s hold. He hit her across the face, Brad. Then she spit on the sidewalk in front of him.”
Brad looked out the window to imagine what took place.
“Then she just got back in the van,” Olivia told him.
“She did? Maybe it was a lover’s quarrel or something?’ Brad asked.
“It was Alexei. The guy who grabbed the girl was Alexei.”
Brad’s mouth opened but he didn’t say anything.
“Should I have called the police?” Olivia asked.
