With the house and the restaurant sitting on two separate locations, a fire that destroyed both would elicit too much suspicion. As the house was more valuable than the restaurant, the fire should begin there. If it somehow spread down the hill to the restaurant, so much the better.
“What are my challenges?” he spoke aloud as he picked up a pen and flipped the page on his notebook. Making lists was one thing he and Chelsea had in common.
“I need to get Chelsea alone in the house,” he murmured as he scribbled. “Or do I?” tapping the pen on his jaw, he considered having the old man in the house with her. The son was out of the question; he may find a way to be a hero and spoil everything. But the old man was weak. He would never be able to rescue himself and Chelsea from the burning building.
“But would his death hurt my chances in a lawsuit after the fact?” Weighing the options, he decided that killing the old man would be more beneficial in the long run, even if the son played the sympathy card with the court. A dead man could not defend himself, opening the door for Preston to tailor the cause of the fire and lay it at his feet.
Having decided the ‘who’, ‘what’ and ‘where’ parts of the ‘who, what, when, where and how’ equation, Preston moved on to the ‘how’.
“It must not be ruled an accident, or the lawsuit against the dead contractor could be invalid.” Preston mused with the same level of emotion he afforded a stray animal crossing his path. “As I’ve no time or inclination to learn anything about electrical processes, I’ll focus on the gas line. Chelsea’s fancy new stove operates on gas, so that will be as good a place as any to disconnect the line.” Smiling, he jotted down a few more notes.
“As the contractor is responsible for properly connecting the stove, that satisfies my basis for the lawsuit.” Nodding, he placed a check mark next to the word ‘justification’ on yet another list. “Once the room is filled with gas, it will only take a small spark to set it off.” Tapping the pen to his jaw once again, he considered the possibilities. “The gas will also have an obvious smell, so both Chelsea and the old man must be unconscious before the leak begins, but how to do it?” He made a notation to check on drugs that would incapacitate, but would not show up in an autopsy, should there be one.
“Now for the ‘when’,” tapping the tabletop, he snarled in frustration. “I must find out if she’s made another will.” Thinking of the two witnesses he’d paid to sign the forged will, he decided that he could use them again to sign a new one that would supersede any that Chelsea may have actually created. It could get messy, however, if he produced one in his favor after such a short time together again. “I doubt that she’ll agree to marry me this soon, so I’ll have to intensify my search. If she will not give me access to her files, I’ll simply have to take it.”
~~~
Mac sat alone at the same kitchen table on which he’d eaten countless meals as a child. Nursing a beer that lost its cold appeal over an hour ago, he stared down at the pile of invoices relating to Chelsea’s project.
He still couldn’t believe what was in front of him in black and white. His preliminary totals showed that John had only billed Chelsea for about twenty percent of the overall costs of the labor and materials, covering the balance with checks from his personal account.
“It just doesn’t make sense,” Mac said quietly for the fiftieth time. “Why would he do something like this?” John had always been generous, but this was taking generosity to a whole new level. “Could it be the tumor? Maybe it affected his brain, in addition to his spinal cord. But surely I would have noticed other things that were off, it that were the case.” Shaking his head, Mac finally accepted that John paid for the bulk of the build because he wanted to. It was his way of giving back, just as he’d said.
“That’s one hell of a legacy, Dad,” Mac pushed away from the table and stood. “But I can’t say that I disapprove.” Opening the screen door leading to his mother’s garden, Mac breathed in the scent of the mountains. It had been the same for as long as he could remember, this place, this feeling, his home. Coming back had illustrated how much he was missing, living in the city.
Dropping down to sit on the steps, he thought again of moving back here, permanently. He’d considered it before he knew how much his dad needed him; now it was a foregone conclusion that he would relocate for the duration at least. But why not make it permanent? He could run the business from here, or sell it outright and start a small firm in Starsdale. He’d already seen so many signs of improvement as a result of Chelsea’s project, surely the trend would continue. Chelsea. How big a role did she play in his desire to relocate?
“More than a little,” he answered aloud. Now that he knew the truth about her and his father, he could allow his true feelings to surface. Something about her made him think of lying in a hammock on a warm summer day. She put him at ease, made him feel that all was right with the world. Other times, she made him feel like he was flying along the PCH at full speed on a Harley. Taking curves with abandon, kissing the edge of the cliff as he accelerated into the turn. Dangerous, crazy and incredibly exciting.
Wondering what life with Chelsea would be like, he remembered the way she’d held him as he cried. For the life of him, he could not feel embarrassed that he’d shown such emotion. It was honest, it was real and he couldn’t think of a single other person alive that he could be so open with. Certainly not any of the women he’d dated in Sacramento. Not anyone he’d grown up with, not even his dad. Especially not his dad. More than anything, he had to be strong for his father, now that he needed him the most.
“Let it be, Son. It is what it is, nothing you or I can do to change it.” John had said those words just before heading up to bed a few short hours ago. Mac had tried talking to him, but it was obvious that he’d had enough for one day. Still, there were things that needed to be said. Mac trusted that he would have the time to say them.
Suddenly, the scent of jasmine filled the night air. As the only jasmine plant was at the front of the house, he recognized that his mother must be around. Thinking of her brought him comfort; the same kind of comfort thinking of Chelsea gave him.
“I know that you’d like it if I moved back home, settled down, started having babies,” Mac said aloud to the jasmine scented air. Babies? Where did that come from, he thought with a hint of anger.
“What the hell is happening to me?” Mac leaned over, picked up a rock and flung it as hard as he could. “First I find out that my father is dying, then I start thinking about babies. This is ridiculous. I don’t even know if Chelsea is interested in me.” Pushing himself up from the stoop, he stomped down to the garden. “She sure seemed cozy with her ex-fiancé, why am I wasting time thinking of her? Even if the guy is a first class douche.”
A sudden chill shook Mac’s large frame from head to toe, leaving behind a certainty that Preston was much more dangerous than he seemed.
The normally light scent of jasmine overpowered his senses, suggesting that he take the warning seriously.
“Okay, Mom, I’ll keep my eyes open.” Frowning, Mac meandered through his mother’s garden, thoughts of Preston and Chelsea weighing heavy on his mind.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Thanks for meeting here so early this morning.” John took charge of the gathering while Mac passed coffee and muffins to Chelsea and Sharon.
Sitting around the makeshift table in the center of the Cliff’s new sunroom, Chelsea and Sharon nodded. John’s call had come at the crack of dawn, but neither woman minded the intrusion.
“Of course,” Chelsea smiled warmly as she sipped the steaming brew.
“I wanted us to have some privacy, there’re a few things we need to discuss,” John continued. “First off, I want to apologize for scaring you yesterday, Missy,” he looked directly at Chelsea. “I thought I’d be able to keep my personal challenges separate from the job, but I guess that’s not possible. I also want to apologize to you as a friend; I didn’t tell you about the ca
ncer because I didn’t want to worry you, and because I didn’t want you treating me like a sick person. Still don’t.” He made a point of meeting all three sets of eyes. “Like I told Mac, it is what it is, nothing any of us can do to change it.”
“But…” Chelsea began, only to stop as John raised his hand.
“Hold on, let me finish.” His voice was firm, yet gentle. “I know that you’re concerned about me working, but I’m asking you not to be. You’ve already agreed to keep my business private, and I thank you for that, but I also need you to let me finish what I set out to do. In exchange, I agree to take the meds Doc prescribed and to rest as often as I feel the need.” Pausing a moment, he shifted his gaze to Mac. “I’m not trying to shorten what time I’ve got left, but I intend to go out on my terms. I’m asking you all to respect that.”
He’d said as much at the hospital; Mac nodded his understanding. Nothing in his father’s speech was news to him. Grateful that his dad was ready to talk, even if it did include Chelsea and Sharon, Mac waited patiently for him to finish. He fully intended to have his own say about the status of things, but privately and before the day was finished.
Pleased with the response, John smiled and sat back, unwrapping his muffin.
“Now, if you have any questions, I’ll do my best to answer them. Then we can get down to business about the grand opening I heard tell of over at the diner.”
“They’re already talking about that?” Chelsea asked in surprise. “Of course they are,” she laughed and shrugged. “Gotta love a small town.”
“I have a question,” Sharon spoke up, refusing to ignore the elephant in the room. “How long did the doctor say that you have? I mean, will you be here for the opening?” Her eyes met John’s without wavering.
John leaned over and patted her arm.
“You bet I’ll be here for the opening, wouldn’t miss it, no matter what the doctors say. To answer your question, the best they can tell me is ‘a few weeks’, but I’m planning on beating the odds.”
Mac felt a vice tighten around his heart at his dad’s words. Without thinking, he looked to Chelsea for support.
Chelsea looked at Mac as soon as John mentioned the timeline. No matter how casual John was acting, this conversation had to be hell for his son. Instinct had her reaching for his hand, but she stopped short of touching him for fear of causing him embarrassment.
“Well, I wouldn’t expect anything less,” Sharon noted the look between Chelsea and Mac before she stood and gave John a big hug. “That’s it, I’m done. I won’t mention it again. But know if you need me for anything, I’m here.”
John returned the hug, grateful for the sentiment. He had also seen the look Mac and Chelsea shared and smiled at the possibilities he imagined. Things were working out exactly as he had hoped.
~~~
“Yes, one policy in the amount of five hundred thousand in Chelsea’s name, with me listed as the beneficiary and one for the same amount in my name, with her listed as the beneficiary.” Preston confirmed to his long-time insurance agent.
“Thank you, we’re both very happy that the engagement is back on. I’ll make sure to give Chelsea your congratulations.” Nodding in response to the agent’s remarks, Preston stared out of the dingy windowpane at the nearly empty parking lot. “Yes, messenger the papers to me here for our signatures. Send the bill to my company in San Diego.”
Having dealt with that tedious bit of business, Preston idly wondered if his company’s check to the insurance agency as payment for the policies would clear before he filed the claim. Chuckling, he decided it would be best to contact his accountant and ensure that payment was made forthwith. It wouldn’t do for there to be any question as to the validity of the policy.
Gathering his newly prepared checklist for Chelsea, along with several proposals he’d quickly put together for her marketing efforts, Preston left the Sunset cheered by his morning’s accomplishments.
~~~
“Are we seriously going to have an entire floor for storage? And a freight elevator to access it?” Sharon and Chelsea stared at the event center’s two story frame that was emerging in front of their eyes.
“Why not?” John asked, trying not to laugh at their shocked expressions. “Missy told me you would need storage and vertical seemed the best way to go. I couldn’t let you girls haul tables and the like up and down stairs, now could I?” His eyes twinkled as he spoke. “And before you ask, I got us a good deal on the lift.” The lies were coming easier and easier.
Mac watched the exchange, noting how much pleasure his dad was taking in the reveal. Whatever doubts Mac had about his reasons for being so generous were squashed in the light of John’s grin. The old adage that money couldn’t buy happiness was never proven more wrong than at this moment. He couldn’t tell which of the three were more delighted with the change in the plans; Chelsea, Sharon or his dad.
“You’ve thought of everything,” Chelsea told him as she impulsively gave John a big hug. “I especially love the space for the outdoor ceremonies. I can’t imagine a more beautiful setting for a wedding.
All four turned to the left of the event center where John had marked an area for landscaping. Redwood trees lined one edge of the clearing, but the mountain backdrop was the shining star in the setting.
“We’ll place an arbor, right there,” Chelsea pointed, “cover it in flowers and lights. A thick carpet of mossy grass will be perfect for the chairs, how many do you think will fit?”
“I’d say two hundred at least,” Sharon joined Chelsea in her plans. “But it will work just as well for a small, intimate wedding. Ooh, we should have photographs made of a bride and groom, standing at the arbor facing the mountains, for our brochures and website.” Winking at John behind Chelsea’s back, she continued. “You’d make a beautiful bride, Chels. And Mac, you wouldn’t mind standing in as the groom, would you?” she asked innocently.
Caught off guard by the question, Chelsea stammered a bit before answering.
“I’m sure we can find someone else to play dress-up, but I like the idea.” She refused to look at Mac, not wanting to hear his response.
With all of the building commotion nearby, none of them heard Preston approach, but he had obviously heard Sharon’s comments.
“I’d be happy to stand up with you Chelsea,” he began. “How many times did we hear what a lovely couple we made?” The picture of jovial good will, Preston strode up to John and held out his hand. “Glad to see that you’re doing better, sir.”
“Um, thank you.” John replied as he took the outstretched hand.
Preston nodded at Sharon and Mac, then turned to Chelsea once again.
“So what do you say, Chels? Shall we stand up together for the photos?” Smiling, he came to stand beside her. “I can have my tux delivered and I’m sure we can find you a dress. Mr. Mills can be the officiant,” he glanced over at Mac, “unless you’d prefer the real deal.”
“I think we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves,” Chelsea replied sweetly, effectively ending that topic of the conversation. “What brings you here, Preston?”
“I have some marketing ideas to show you, if you’re interested.” Preston ignored the chill in her tone.
“Oh, well, I suppose I could take a few minutes. John, Mac, do either of you need me for anything else at the moment?”
Mac searched his brain for a valid reason to keep Chelsea away from Preston. He couldn’t come up with anything quick enough. Neither could John.
“Actually, I’d love to see the restaurant, before we go up to the house.” Preston ignored the two men. “Would you have time for a nickel tour?” He smiled winningly at Chelsea.
“That’s a good idea, I’d love to see it again,” Sharon interjected, taking Chelsea by the arm and leading her away from Preston. “We can plan out the table arrangement so I’ll know how many to order.”
Masking his disappointment, Preston followed behind the women. Winning Sharon’s trust wou
ld make things smoother after Chelsea died. There was no one else to challenge the validity of the will, as far as he knew.
The idea hit him like a bolt of lightning. Sharon was the only one to challenge the will. Sharon could die with Chelsea and eliminate the one obstacle to his plan’s success. Who else would know whether or not they were engaged again? Without her best friend around to dispute his word, Preston could collect on all of the insurance policies without interference. It was brilliant!
Mac and John watched the trio walk away in silence. John was the first to speak.
“I don’t like that man, not one bit,” he mumbled under his breath.
“I’m with you, Dad.” Mac agreed. “We’ll keep our eyes on him.”
“That we will, Son, that we will.”
~~~
“When do you anticipate being open for business?” Preston asked as he and Chelsea poured over the marketing campaign.
“Technically, I could open the B&B next week, but I’d prefer to wait on the event center and the restaurant to be complete, open everything at once.” Chelsea seemed distracted by the list of print ads Preston proposed.
“From the looks of things, it won’t be much longer before the restaurant and the kitchen are finished. If they move as quickly on the event building, I’d say you’ll be ready to open in two to three weeks.”
“Which doesn’t give me a lot of time to set up the marketing,” Chelsea reached for her list. “I have to find a photographer, build a website, buy the ads,” Dropping the list, Chelsea shook her head. “I didn’t realize that print ads were so expensive. My two thousand dollar budget will not go very far.”
“Why don’t I take a look at the budget? Maybe I can find a way to cut costs someplace else, increase the ad budget. You know I don’t mind.” Preston smiled disarmingly.
Chelsea took a moment to think it over. She was suddenly overwhelmed with the profusion of details that needed her attention What could it hurt for Preston to go over the numbers?
Killer Romances Page 54
