by Bobbi Holmes
“Does it hurt when she hooks you up?” Will asked.
“Nahh, I’m just being a big ol’ baby.” Lily flashed Will a guilty grin and took a bite of her muffin.
“I’m going to a funeral this morning. Perhaps I’ll see you at the cemetery?” Danielle asked.
“Funeral?” Will frowned. “I’m sorry. Was it a close friend?”
“Close friend? No. Definitely not.” Danielle shook her head and grabbed some bacon.
“Doesn’t sound like you were fond of the departed,” Will observed.
“Stoddard Gusarov, I mentioned him last night. The one who was murdered earlier this week.”
“The one who held Lily?” Will glanced from Danielle to Lily. During dinner on Friday night, they had told Will the story of Lily and the Gusarov family and of Danielle’s brief arrest for Stoddard’s murder.
“Yes. The SOB who is responsible for this lovely tattoo.” Lily looked at her arm and cringed.
“I don’t know if it makes you feel any better, but that’s really a beautiful tattoo. Although, I don’t imagine you can see the beauty, since it was forced on you,” Will said.
Lily looked at her arm again. “You really think so?”
“I do. While the tattoo artist totally lacked character and ethics, he’s not without talent. The colors, the details are brilliant. And it’s not that big.”
Danielle noticed Billy Bob—or Will as he wanted to be called—didn’t sound as countrified in speech as he had been when they first met, although he still dressed the part of the drugstore cowboy.
“I guess. I might as well get used to it.” Lily sighed and went back to eating her breakfast.
“I never thought to ask, but when you lived in Frederickport, did you know Stoddard Gusarov?”
“I knew who he was—the family had money.” Will shrugged. “I didn’t know him well. Yet, from what I did know about him, his actions toward Lily don’t really surprise me.”
“Will I be seeing you at the cemetery this morning?” Danielle asked.
“When is the funeral?” he asked.
“10:30. They’re having a reception at the Gusarov Estate afterwards, which I’ll definitely be missing.” I don’t care if MacDonald wants me to go to that too, not happening.
“I’ll probably be going over there this afternoon, when it’s quieter.” Will looked up at Danielle. “I am a little surprised you’re going to the man’s funeral, considering what he’s done.”
“I suppose I’m going more to check out the possible suspects,” Danielle confessed.
“Really?” Will raised his brows.
“I did get arrested for the murder. Someone obviously went to a lot of trouble to frame me.”
“You be careful, young lady. If someone is trying to frame you, remember, they’ve already killed one man. These are obviously dangerous people.”
* * *
Danielle called Marie and told her she would be going to Stoddard’s funeral after all. She didn’t want to show up after turning down Marie’s offer for a ride, without telling her she had changed her mind. Marie immediately reissued an invitation to pick Danielle up for the funeral. In truth, Marie was offering the services of her grandson, Adam, as Marie, at age ninety, no longer drove. Danielle declined the offer, explaining she didn’t plan to attend the wake after the services at the Gusarov Estate. Marie wouldn’t take no for an answer and said Adam would be happy to drop Danielle off at Marlow House after the funeral and before the wake.
* * *
“I’m sorry you had to do this,” Danielle told Adam as she climbed into his car later that morning. “But your grandmother wouldn’t take no for an answer.” She shut the car door and buckled her seatbelt.
“Hey, no need to explain. Trust me. I know Grandma.” Adam put his car in drive, heading towards Marie’s house to pick her up.
“Yeah, your grandma can be pretty stubborn.” Danielle leaned back in the car’s seat and looked out the window.
“Speaking of Grandma, she’s been pretty worried about you. What is this about you getting arrested, again? I heard something on the radio, but just got the tail end of it. What in the world going on with you?”
Danielle gave Adam a quick recap of her arrest and subsequence release.
“Sounds like someone is going to a lot of effort to frame you.”
“Why did they have to pick on me?” Danielle grumbled.
“That’s pretty obvious.” Adam glanced over to Danielle, who was now looking at him. He looked back down the road. “I doubt it is anything personal.”
“It feels pretty darn personal!”
“They obviously want someone to take the rap for Stoddard’s murder so the cops will stop investigating. You have a good reason to be pissed at the guy, so you make a good target.”
“Unfortunately for them, they didn’t figure a witness would come forward as my alibi.”
“You didn’t say who that witness was.” He glanced briefly at Danielle again.
“The chief would prefer I not say right now.” Danielle shifted uncomfortably in the seat.
“Let’s just hope whoever killed Stoddard doesn’t come after your witness—or do something to discredit his testimony.”
“I figure the best thing I can do is try and figure out who killed Stoddard.”
“Is that why you’re going to his funeral? I wouldn’t be going if it wasn’t for Grandma.”
“You never liked him much, did you?” Danielle asked.
“Not much. But I didn’t dislike him enough to kill him.”
“Oh, I never even thought...”
Adam laughed. “I didn’t think you did. Just thought I’d put it out there anyhow. Truth is, it wasn’t as much about me disliking Stoddard. It’s that he never cared for me. Figured I was out to marry his niece and then get my hands on his precious company.”
“Your grandmother wanted you to marry Isabella, didn’t she?”
“Grandma would be thrilled if I’d settle down with any halfway respectable woman and start giving her great-grandchildren.” He glanced over at Danielle and chuckled. “After all, why do you think I’m driving you today?”
“Yeah, well that’s not happening,” Danielle snorted.
“I guess I should be insulted.” Adam didn’t sound insulted.
“Maybe I’ll find you a nice young lady you can’t resist and then Marie will stop trying to play matchmaker.”
“Gee thanks, what did I ever do to you?” Adam frowned.
Danielle considered giving him a list—beginning with the time he broke into Marlow House looking for the Missing Thorndike. Instead, she decided to change the subject.
“So, who do you think are the likely candidates for Stoddard’s murder?” she asked. “You’ve lived in Frederickport all your life.”
“I suppose wife number three would be on the top of the suspect list. From what I understand, Darlene will be inheriting Stoddard’s estate. Now, had Isabella not died, and if Stoddard had known Isabella changed her will back, I imagine Isabella would be inheriting the bulk of the estate. Stoddard was big on keeping the family business in the family. Of course, if Darlene had children—then a different story.”
“I understand Darlene is pregnant.”
Adam briefly glanced over at Danielle. “Where did you hear that?”
“I can’t recall,” Danielle lied. She couldn’t very well tell Adam that Stoddard’s ghost told her.
“I find that hard to believe.” Adam said.
“Why do you say that?”
“I saw Darlene last night at The Gray Whale. She was pounding them down pretty heavy. I’m just surprised she’d be drinking like that if she were pregnant. She was smoking too, now that I think about it.”
“Unfortunately, some people keep drinking and smoking through a pregnancy.”
“I guess. Just thought she was smarter than that.” Adam shook his head.
“So, Darlene would be at the top of your list?”
“Yes,
but if she’s pregnant like you say, I’d be tempted to take her off the suspect list. Does a woman really knock off the father of her unborn child? And considering the pregnancy, it insures her place in Stoddard’s pocketbook—if not his heart.”
“I know a woman’s risk of being killed by a lover or spouse increases when pregnant, yet have never heard about the reverse situation.” Danielle paused a moment and glanced over at Adam. “Adam, how did you know about Isabella changing her will back to leave everything to Stoddard?’
“Grandma told me.”
“How did your grandmother find out?” Danielle didn’t believe it was common knowledge.
“Grandma knows everyone in town. She may be ninety, but she probably knows more about what goes on in this town than most.”
“I guess she doesn’t know the latest.”
“Latest?” Adam asked.
“From what I understand, Earthbound Spirits produced another will—leaving Isabella’s estate to them.”
“I imagine it is the old will.” Adam shrugged. “Probably will be tossed out.”
“According to Darlene, Stoddard never found Isabella’s new will. According to Darlene, there was no new will—Stoddard confessed to forging it. So now Isabella’s estate is going to Earthbound Spirts, not Stoddard’s heir.”
Adam let out a low whistle. “Not saying that surprises me. When Grandma told me about the new will Stoddard supposedly found, the thought went through my head that Stoddard forged it. But that doesn’t make sense; why didn’t Darlene just play dumb and let the courts sort it out? Could have gone her way. There’s a lot of money at stake.”
Chapter Fourteen
It was late September in Frederickport, and the remnants of summer gave way to autumn. With temperatures in the low seventies, there was a nip in the air, and a beach breeze rustled the skirts of the women attending Stoddard’s funeral; those who chose to wear dresses instead of something more casual. One of those women was Marie Hemming Nichols, who had added a floppy straw hat to her morning ensemble.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen this place so crowded,” Danielle noted as they made their way from the parking lot to the chapel, Marie on her arm.
“Looks like the whole town’s here,” Marie observed.
“Stoddard must have had a lot of friends,” Danielle said.
Marie laughed. “Hardly. I’ve known Stoddard since his family moved to Frederickport, and he was always an annoying little twerp. Only reason for all these people, morbid curiosity and the fact he’s been a member of this community for eons.”
“Plus, he was a prominent local business man,” Danielle added.
“Oh pish!” Marie spat. “If Stoddard’s parents hadn’t left him the family business he’d be pumping gas right now.”
“As you can see, my grandmother doesn’t have the highest opinion of the dearly departed,” Adam said with a chuckle.
“I assume he must have some business savvy considering his company is supposedly worth a small fortune,” Danielle suggested.
“Chuck Christiansen,” Marie said.
“Chuck Christiansen? Isn’t that the one they say is…or was, Stoddard’s right hand man?” Danielle asked.
“He pretty much runs the company,” Adam explained. “Although, most people don’t know that. Stoddard did a good job making everyone think he was at the helm all these years. I imagine the company will continue doing well if Darlene and Earthbound Spirits keep Christiansen on.”
“Earthbound Spirits, what do they have to do with it?” Marie glanced over to her grandson who walked next to her.
“According to Danielle, they’ve produced another will—the one leaving Isabella’s estate to them, and apparently Darlene admitted the will Stoddard found was forged.”
Marie glanced from Adam to Danielle. “You didn’t tell me that.”
“I was just telling Adam this morning, on the way over to your house. Both of us find it odd Darlene didn’t just play dumb and see if the court bought Stoddard’s story. There is a lot of money at stake, and considering what she was willing to do to Lily, Darlene Gusarov obviously doesn’t have the highest moral character.”
“There she is now,” Marie hissed under her breath, pointing toward the chapel, where an intimate group of people gathered around a woman in black.
“How can you tell?” Adam asked.
Danielle thought he had a point, considering the woman in question was covered in black—from the stocking feet clad in Louboutin black pumps, to the ebony lace dress, and veiled black hat obscuring the woman’s face, revealing just a hint of blond hair.
“Who else but the widow would dress like that,” Marie said.
“True,” Danielle agreed. “I didn’t know widows still dressed like that.”
“One thing you can say about Darlene, she always had a dramatic flair,” Adam snickered.
They were about to step up on the sidewalk when Stoddard’s apparition appeared less than a foot from Danielle, causing her to stumble to a sudden stop. Marie, still on Danielle’s arm, found herself jerked back, as she too came to an abrupt halt.
“How dare you show yourself here!” Stoddard screamed at the top of his lungs. That was, if he had lungs, which he no longer did.
“Something wrong dear?” Marie asked, as she steadied herself.
“Umm…” Danielle blinked and glanced from Stoddard to Marie and Adam, who eyed her curiously and then back to Stoddard who stubbornly blocked her way as he continued to hurl verbal insults. Frantically waving his arms, Stoddard grabbed at Danielle, yet his hands moved through her arms, which only made him more frustrated. He tried again, and this time she felt something. Glancing down, Danielle’s eyes widened when she noticed a small scratch on her arm. It began to turn red. In the next instant, Stoddard vanished.
“Danielle, are you alright?” Adam asked when Danielle failed to respond to Marie’s question.
Blinking her eyes again, Danielle looked over to Adam and Marie. “I’m sorry. I guess I sort of zoned out.”
Marie patted her arm. “That’s okay dear, these situations can be a little unsettling. And considering all Stoddard has done to you and Lily…well…you are a very good person to even come today.”
“Yeah, if it was me, I would have stayed home,” Adam said as he eyed his grandmother—the only reason he was attending Stoddard’s service.
As Danielle started to step up on the curb, she spied Chief MacDonald across the way, beyond Darlene and her little group. He was checking out the crowd. She wondered, was Stoddard’s killer in the group? Was the person—or persons—who tried to frame her for Stoddard’s murder among the people around her?
When MacDonald saw her coming in his direction, he waved. Momentarily distracted by the police chief, Danielle failed to notice the small crowd around Darlene had parted and now looked at her. Marie noticed and gave Danielle’s arm a little tug. Danielle stopped walking and glanced at Marie. The elderly woman nodded toward Darlene. Danielle saw Darlene staring in her direction—at least she assumed Darlene was staring, considering the black lace veil covered the widow’s face.
Darlene took a step towards Danielle. “How dare you show yourself here!”
Danielle paused again, shocked not so much at the outburst, but the fact Darlene parroted the same exact words her dead husband had used just moments earlier.
“Don’t make a scene, Darlene,” Marie snapped as she clung protectively to Danielle’s arm.
“Don’t make a scene? Don’t make a scene?” With each sentence Darlene’s shrill voice increased several octaves. “This woman murdered my Todd! She is a cold blooded killer!” Everyone within hearing distance turned heads to watch the unfolding drama.
Chief MacDonald stepped forward and placed a hand on Darlene’s shoulder. Danielle hadn’t noticed before, but Officer Brian Henderson was with the chief. She didn’t see Joe anywhere in sight.
“I understand you’re upset, but Danielle had nothing to do with Stoddard’s death,”
the chief said, intentionally speaking loud and clear so everyone who’d heard the widow’s accusations could hear what he had to say.
“How can you say that?” Darlene sobbed. “I heard Todd with my own ears—just before he died. He named his killer!” She turned to Brian. “Didn’t he, Brian? You were there, you heard him! Todd didn’t deserve to die like that. He was in so much pain!” She began to sob uncontrollably.
Brian looked over at the chief who nodded. Tucking his hand under Darlene’s arm, Brian led her away from the crowd and into the chapel.
* * *
“How can you let that woman get away with murder?” Darlene asked Brian, after he led her into a private room in the chapel, intended for grieving family members.
Closing the door behind them he said, “You need to pull yourself together, Darlene. Making a scene won’t help Stoddard.”
With a wave of her right hand, Darlene swept the veil from her face, and threw it over her hat, revealing her face to Brian.
Glaring at him she hissed, “I don’t understand you, Brian. Are you taking her side? I didn’t even think you liked her.”
Brian looked down into Darlene’s angry eyes. If he expected to find tears, he was surprised to see there was none.
“This isn’t about taking sides. But if Boatman didn’t kill Stoddard, there really is nothing I can do.”
“You heard Todd—that woman—that monster—killed my husband in cold blood. With his dying breath, he told us all we needed to know to lock up his killer. But you haven’t done that—have you Brian? You dropped the charges and now here she is, flaunting herself, attending the funeral of the man she murdered.”
Brian shook his head. “I don’t know why Stoddard said what he did. But he was wrong. Danielle didn’t kill him.”
Darlene was silent for a moment, staring up into Brian’s eyes. Taking a deep breath, she lifted her right hand and caressed his cheek. The gesture startled him and he stepped back.
“Please Brian, don’t shut me out,” Darlene whispered, taking a step toward him. She reached up again and touched his face. Before he could respond, she stood on her tiptoes and brushed a kiss over his lips.
