All About the Money (A Jesse Watson Mystery Series Book 7)

by Ann Mullen

  “I guess it didn’t bother him. He was too busy with his girlfriend.”

  “That’s just plain hurtful, Jesse,” Savannah snapped, tears coming to her eyes. The tears dried up just as quickly as they had appeared. It was as if she could start and stop crying on cue. That ticked me off, but not as much as her next remark. “You’re jealous! That’s why you’re badgering me about Cole. You can’t have him, so you don’t want anyone else to. I don’t believe it!” She got up from the table and slipped into the shirt, pulling it close to her chest as if she was trying to shield herself from something unpleasant. “You know, he told me that about you. That’s right! We talked about you! He said you sabotaged his relationship with your sister, Claire. He called you jealous and vindictive. I didn’t believe him at the time, because you had dumped him. When someone gets dumped, they get defensive. I wrote it off, but now I’m beginning to wonder if there isn’t something to what he said. It’s clear that you’re jealous of his being with another woman. Look at how you went off when you saw that picture. You acted like a woman scorned.”

  “Boy, have you got it all wrong!”

  My anxiety overtook me. A pain shot through my chest as I grasped for breath. I doubled over, trying to ride it out. When I straightened up, Savannah and Billy were standing next to me staring in horror. Whatever they were thinking, I knew it couldn’t be good. Had my little spasm after the mention of my jealous state caused them to severely question my feelings toward Cole? I had to correct that assumption. I sat down.

  “My behavior has nothing to do with Cole. Either my anxiety is off the chart, or I’m suffering the aftereffects of a bullet to the vest.”

  “What?” Savannah asked. She looked at Billy for an explanation. “What’s she talking about?”

  “It’s a long story, but the short of it is: Jesse got shot in the chest last night. Luckily, she was wearing a bulletproof vest.” Billy smiled half-heartedly. “She’s sporting a hefty bruise.”

  “I’m so sorry, Jesse. That must really hurt.”

  “Only when I breathe.”

  Billy held his hand out to me. “Maybe we should leave. Savannah has answered our questions. You need to go home and rest.”

  I stood up, looked at Savannah and said, “I have to believe you if I’m going to be your friend, so if I ever catch you in another lie again, our friendship will be over. Is there anything else you need to tell me?”

  “I didn’t murder Andrea Holt. That’s all you need to know. Any lies I told was done so to save face. I do have some pride, you know.”

  “I understand.”

  And, I did, somewhat. What she was telling me was that she would lie to my face if it would make her look good. She had a reputation to protect. Some friend.

  Billy and I left Savannah standing in her kitchen, her coffee sitting on the table, getting cold. She didn’t bother to walk with us outside like one would do with their guests, but I wasn’t surprised. She was probably tired of my questions and accusations. So be it.

  At first, I never suspected that Savannah murdered Andrea, but as evidence piled up, I started questioning her innocence. I was pretty sure she didn’t have the killer instinct, but she did exacerbate the situation. I didn’t want to see her go to jail for fighting back against a bully—and that’s what Andrea had been. She had bullied Savannah to the breaking point. Perhaps they should have a jail just for bullies.

  “Are you now convinced that Savannah is innocent?” Billy asked as we climbed into the 4Runner.

  “She’s not innocent by any means, but I don’t think she’s a murderer. If that’s what you’re asking. Andrea antagonized Savannah long before the final battle.”

  “Savannah did what she had to do to stay alive. You can’t fault her for that. She could’ve handled the situation better, but she probably didn’t know how.”

  “If Savannah had come to us with her problem, we could’ve helped.”

  “She was too proud. She didn’t want anyone to know about McCoy and his mistress.”

  “And what about that?” I looked at Billy as he drove down South River Road. “Why would McCoy ever have an affair with a woman like Andrea? She’s nothing like Savannah. When it comes to looks, Savannah had her beat by a mile. Andrea wasn’t pretty. She was stocky, and she had a bad complexion. Savannah’s a successful writer, and Andrea was just a secretary. They were as different as night and day.”

  “I can’t answer that, `ge ya, but I see what you mean.”

  “Andrea looked like she was beat with an ugly stick.”

  Billy laughed. “An ugly stick? Where do you come up with this stuff?”

  “It’s just my great imagination.”

  “You should be a writer. You and Savannah could collaborate on a book. Wouldn’t that be a hoot?”

  “Yeah… How to Kill Your Husband’s Girlfriend and Get Away With It. No thanks. I’ll stick to telling lies and invading people’s privacy. That’s more fun than writing a book.”

  Savannah’s a writer. She makes up stories for a living. She weaves tales of murder, mystery, and mayhem. I remember reading that about her on one of her book flaps. I might lie for a living, but she kills people… and she makes a lot more money than I do for her effort. Was this just another one of her stories? Unlike her books, this wasn’t fiction. This was real. Drop it, I told myself. Savannah wrote about killers, but she wasn’t one. I let my mind drift, and it came back to what Billy had said about my bruise. I looked over at him and asked, “Not to change the subject, but how do you know what my bruise looks like? I didn’t show it to you.”

  “I looked at it while you were asleep.”

  “You did what?”

  “Don’t look at me like that. I also checked your breathing and skin color. An injury like that can be bad. You didn’t complain, and that concerned me.”

  “And... so what did you discover during your journey into the land of voyeurism?”

  “That you’re one sexy `ge ya.”

  “I don’t know if I should be flattered or disgusted.”

  It was Billy’s turn to change the subject. “I forgot to ask you if you wanted to stop and see your mom. I can turn around.”

  “No, don’t. Let’s take a break and go home. I want to see my kids. Eat dinner with them.”

  “Speaking of children…”

  “Don’t even go there. Kaleb is not coming to live with us.”

  I could see that one coming, but there was no way I was going to raise someone else’s child. Not under these circumstances.

  Chapter 14

  Just as we were making the right turn at the traffic light in Ruckersville, the skies had become overcast, and the rain had started. Our sunny day had vanished—just like my mood.

  “I’m serious, Billy. Don’t even think about bringing Kaleb home like you would a stray dog. It wouldn’t be cool or cute.” After a second, I changed my tune. “But… if you want to talk about having another baby, I’m ready to listen.”

  “That’s exactly what I had in mind, but you didn’t give me a chance to say it.” A broad smile came to his face. “Let’s go home and start trying.”

  “We need to talk about it first. We have to consider our job, the kids, and whether or not we’ll have the time to devote to another child. It’s all we can do to spend time with the ones we already have.”

  “We will find the time. I come from a large family. I love having a house full of kids. The more, the merrier.”

  “You say that now. Wait until you’re up in the wee hours of the morning changing diapers again. You might not be so happy then. Remember what it was like not getting any sleep? Having to change your clothes all the time because the baby spit up on you, or the diaper leaked.”

  “I can adapt. I’m good at going with the flow.”

  “Yes, you are. And… we do have the room for another baby.”

  “I can build more if you want me to.”

  “If we add on more rooms, we’ll have to get a hotel permit.”
/>   “I’ll apply now.”

  “You have an answer for everything, don’t you?”

  “We don’t want to wait too long,” he said, seriously. “Your meter is running.”

  I cracked up. I laughed until my sides and my bruised chest hurt.

  “I’d do whatever it takes. I’d nurse the baby, if I could.”

  “Stop! That’s just plain gross.”

  I continued to laugh at his silliness, until we pulled up in the front yard and saw Mom’s bright yellow SUV parked out front.

  “What’s she doing here?” I asked, knowing that she had to be up to no good. She always called first before she dropped by. Her visit could only signify one thing—I was in the doghouse. No… this was not good. I had that old, guilty feeling I got when she had caught me in a lie.

  “She probably came by to see the kids. She hasn’t seen them for a couple of days. She just misses them. I’m sure that’s all there is to it.”

  “Right, Tonto. You’re not the one facing the guillotine.”

  We got out of the 4Runner and ran through the rain up onto the porch. I stopped for a minute and said, “Whatever I’ve done wrong, you’d better back me up.”

  “Oh, `ge ya, but you’re making a big fuss over nothing.” He opened the front door and waited for me to enter. “Your mom’s here for a friendly visit. Nothing more.”

  But there was more to it. I could tell the instant I walked into the house. Helene hurriedly walked up to me and said, “I didn’t want to show it to her, but she made me. Please don’t be mad.”

  “What are you talking about?” Then I looked over at the kitchen table and saw my vest lying on it. “Oh, no. I’m dead meat. Life is officially over for me.”

  “You got that right, Missy,” Mom said, walking over to me with that defiant look she gets when she’s really, really mad. “What’s the meaning of this?” She pointed to the vest. “You got shot and you didn’t tell me? What’s the matter with you? Have you lost your mind? If you have to wear a vest, then this job has gotten too dangerous! You have to quit! I’m tired of worrying about you winding up dead in a ditch somewhere. You have two children to think about.”

  I didn’t know what to say to her to ease her mind, so I said the first thing that came to my mind. “That’s right. I have two children, and we’re going to make another one, so don’t upset me. My eggs won’t do what they’re supposed to do.” I really surprised her with that one. She was actually at a loss for words.

  Finally, she stepped back and said, “Well, don’t let me stop you.”

  Everyone laughed, and the tension in the air dissipated.

  “I need a drink,” Billy said, leaving us, and then walking into the kitchen. He pulled a bottle out from the bottom cabinet and said, “Does anybody want a drink?”

  “I’ll take one,” I answered a little too quickly.

  “What about your eggs?” Mom joked. “Doesn’t alcohol have a negative effect on them?”

  “They’re resting right now. They’re not ready to come out and play.”

  I felt something touch my leg and when I turned to see what it was, I saw Maisy standing next to me rubbing her eyes.

  “Mommy, I’m hungry.”

  My heart melted. I picked her up, gave her a kiss, and then took her over to see her daddy. Billy’s eyes lit up like they usually did every time he was around our kids. “We have a great family, don’t we?” I said, handing her to him. “I’d better go check on Ethan. He’s probably up, too.”

  Athena came prancing into the kitchen as if she’d just awakened, too. She guarded Maisy’s bedroom just like Thor did Ethan’s. It’s funny how girls stick with girls, and boys stick with boys, I thought to myself. As I rounded the corner heading to Ethan’s room, Thor rose up from his sleeping position. That told me Ethan wasn’t up from his nap yet. When I walked into the room and leaned over to look at him, he opened his eyes and said, “Mama.” Who knew one little word could mean so much? I scooped him up and kissed him about the face. He giggled, but held on while I walked back to the kitchen. Thor trailed after us, barking at some imaginary would-be attackers. I sat Ethan down in his chair and walked over to Billy.

  The talk had turned to babies. Mom was thrilled at the idea of having another grandchild. She acted as if the vest incident had never happened. When that thought came to mind, so did another one: How did she find out? Helene knew everything that went on in our house, but I knew she’d never tell. Only a handful of people knew: Billy, me, the guy who shot me, and… Savannah.

  Billy handed me a small glass of bourbon. I took the glass, gulped down the vile stuff, and then turned to Mom and said, “I guess Savannah was looking after my best interests when she told you about the vest incident. She knows you don’t want to be the last one to know.”

  Billy knew I was fishing. Figuring that I probably needed it, he poured another glass and handed it to me. I gulped it down.

  “I told you she was your friend. She cares…” Mom stopped for a second. “You were baiting me. Why would you do that to your own mother?”

  “That’s correct, I was.”

  “What’s turned you against Savannah? You used to really like her. Was it the death of that woman? You know Savannah wouldn’t do something like that if she didn’t have a reason. Self-defense—plain and simple. Can’t you just let it go, and be her friend? You didn’t turn on me when I killed that guy, so why are you turning on her? Did you ever think about it like that?”

  “No… I never did, but you’re my mother. I’d never turn against you.”

  “Savannah’s not perfect, honey. I know that now. But she’s a good person. She’s even going to take in McCoy’s son. Who would do that, if they didn’t have such a kind heart?”

  I set my empty glass down on the counter. I’d had enough.

  “She said somebody had to step up and take responsibility.”

  “Yes, I know,” I said. “We discussed it while we were at her house.” I looked at Billy and then back at Mom. “I’m glad to see that she’s finally getting the child she always wanted.”

  “I don’t know if you’re serious or being sarcastic,” Mom said. “I can’t tell anymore.”

  “I don’t mean to butt in,” Helene said, “but what is Savannah going to do with a child when they put her in prison. She says she’s innocent, but there’s a lot of evidence that says she’s not. Has anyone considered that?”

  “I have a feeling she’ll never see the inside of a prison,” I said. “That’s not going to be the ending to this book.”

  “Oh, you’re making a joke,” Mom said, smiling. “Savannah will get a kick out of that.”

  Billy reached down into the cabinet and pulled out a big pot. “Who’s hungry? I’m going to start dinner. I don’t know what I’m going to fix, but I’m sure I’ll need this pot.” He poured himself another drink, and then looked at the children. “Mommy and I plan to stay home the rest of the day, so let’s have some fun. Who wants some of my famous deer soup?”

  “It’s too hot for soup,” I said.

  “Then turn up the air-conditioning. I feel like a good, old family stew. Who’s with me?” He danced around, acting like a child.

  The children clapped and the dogs barked at his antics. I hadn’t seen Spice Cat since I’d been home, but I was positive that if he was close by, he’d be purring right along with the rest of them.

  “Will you stay for dinner, Mom? Billy makes a mean stew.”

  “I know he does, but I have to go. I promised Savannah that I wouldn’t be gone long. She needs me. She’s all alone.”

  “What about Eddie? Where’s he?”

  “He’s at home. He understands that I need to be with Savannah. She said I was like a second mother to her. Imagine that. I have to help her get through this. I’m beginning to feel like she’s one of my own.”

  I just didn’t understand how my mother could be so taken in by Savannah. Was it because of her notoriety? She is a celebrity. Mom adored Elvis Presley.
When he died, she was appalled at how the media portrayed him. He never took drugs, she was sure of that. She had an image in her head and nothing was going to change it. I guess the same applied when it came to Savannah.

  “You be sure to give Savannah my best,” I said, trying to keep up a façade. The minute my mother told me that Savannah was going to raise Kaleb, I could see right through her. Her outrageous self-promotion had put her at the bottom of my friends’ list. She didn’t care about that child. All she cared about was saving face. Isn’t that what she said? I would keep her at arm’s length where she belonged. I guess Billy was right about me when he said I hold a grudge. Do me wrong, and I’ll never trust you again. I might lie as part of my job, but not in real life.

  Mom left with a smile on her face. That’s all that mattered to me. I wanted my mom to be happy even if she was living in a fantasy world. One day, Savannah would break her heart. It was bound to happen.

  Billy fixed a fine pot of stew for dinner. It was so nice to sit at the table with our children and my wonderful husband, thinking about the arrival of our next baby. What had I gotten myself into? Once Ethan turned one, I’d been thinking about what Mom said about having your babies close together, and I did want to have a few more, but what in the world was I thinking? I’m too busy to have another baby right now. Maybe next year. Then I thought about that yearly birth control shot. Savannah had suggested that I try it and get off the pill. That was six months ago. I still have six more months to get used to the idea. For now, I could just practice. I snickered at myself.

  “What’s so funny, Jesse?” Helene asked. “You’ve got a weird look on your face.”

  I looked over at Billy and smiled. “Today, we decided to have another baby. I’m so happy.”

  “Is this a secret I need to keep?” Helene asked. “Sometimes I have a hard time sorting then all out. Oh, never mind. Your mother knows. Somebody left the gate open and all the farm animals got out. There’s no keeping it quiet now.”

  “I had to distract her,” I said. “The reality of knowing your daughter just got shot in the chest and could’ve died was a bit too much for my mother to take. Eventually, she’ll come to terms with it. She knows the kind of life we live.”