The Michaela Bancroft Mysteries 1-3

by Michele Scott

  Where was he going with this? She did remember telling him that when they were kids, and he'd replied that it was impossible to give him a dad. That a dad wasn't someone you could go buy at a store. Ethan had told her that dads were men who wanted to be dads, that there was no one who wanted to be his. Michaela had always wished she could have changed that for him.

  "Growing up, your family was like my family. Our mothers were like sisters. I know they still talk all the time, even though my mom is so far away." Ethan's mother had moved to Florida a few years back to be with a man she'd met on a cruise. The relationship hadn't worked out, but Ethan's mother found she liked living on the Florida coast. "Your father wasn't exactly like a dad to me, just because he keeps to himself, but Lou treated me like a son. Remember how he used to take us trail riding? And, he'd come watch my football games when we were in high school? He was even the one who advised me to become a vet. I looked up to him. I loved him, always wished he were my dad. Then, when Summer cancelled our wedding, he let me stay at the guest house and didn't expect a dime from me. Of course, I paid him. But my bank statements show he never cashed the checks."

  He sighed. "Lou obviously knew my dad." He pointed to the photo. "He knew my dad and he knew he wasn't dead, like I'd been told by my mother. He'd known all these years, even knew where he lived. He knew."

  "I'm sorry. I am so confused."

  "Summer was the one who discovered it. While doing his books she saw checks for significant amounts written to a Tom Beckenhour. She asked Lou who the guy was. He told her that it was a buddy he'd bought some horses from. She asked him which horses so she'd know how to organize it on the books. He got a bit gruff with her. She mentioned something about looking at some of the previous years on the books and that this Tom received these checks on a regular basis. Lou told her to mind her own business. But it still bothered Summer because of the way Lou was acting. He even told her that he'd handle those transactions, and for her not to worry about it. Then, she found this photo while looking for some transactions from a few years back that the IRS asked for during that audit they did of the ranch last year."

  Michaela remembered that well. Uncle Lou was angry about being audited, but Summer had done a decent job preparing for it, and the government found that all the deductions he'd taken on his taxes a few years back were legit.

  "She noticed the resemblance to me." Michaela studied the picture, and it was true. The man in the photo with Uncle Lou did bear a striking resemblance to Ethan. "Well, she started looking into it, and she found out that Tom Beckenhour is some washed-up rodeo cowboy that Lou knew back in the '60s. They'd been buddies on the circuit. He introduced this guy to my mom one night and... well, I'm the product of that one night."

  She shook her head. "Whoa."

  "Right. It gets worse, though. Tom Beckenhour knew about me through Lou, who tried to get him to do the right thing. But this loser was a drunk and ran away from my mom and me."

  "So, your mom and Lou did do the right thing not telling you about him. Did you ever think of that?"

  Ethan shrugged. "No. I didn't, because I guess the guy did sober up when I was around ten years old and wanted to be a part of my life, but Lou has spent the last twenty years sending him cash to keep him away from me. That's why we had the falling-out. That's why I took off and was so angry and didn't tell you why I left to go rafting. I didn't say anything to you until now, because I had to make sure it was all the truth. Then on top of it, Summer tells me she's pregnant. I had to process it all, but now I feel like I have to tell you. I know you've been having doubts about me and my loyalty to Lou. I'm sure you've even wondered if I could have killed him."

  "It'd be a waste of time to deny it."

  "I loved Lou and I was hurt by the lies, but knowing him and knowing the extremes he went to, to shine the light on the real Brad for your sake, I understand why he did what he did for me. Lou wanted to protect the people he loved from being hurt. So he kept secrets, buried lies, and held on tight to all of us. Maybe too tight, and secrets and lies always catch up with you. The thing I don't get is why he continued to pay this guy off even when I got older. Why he didn't let me make my own judgments. Again, I've come to the conclusion that was him holding on as tight as he could, afraid of losing those close to him."

  Michaela nodded. She took Ethan's hand and held it for a moment before saying anything. "Funny how you can love someone so much, you'll do almost anything to keep them from walking away, even if it means hiding behind a lie. Don't you wonder though, just what kind of man this guy who's supposedly your dad is? To continue to take money from Lou after all these years, and agree to stay away, does not bode well in my mind as to what your father would be like. I mean, if he really wanted to know you he would have told Lou to go to hell."

  Ethan looked hurt by the words as he pulled his hand away from her. "I suppose that's true."

  Why did she have to be so blunt? "What about your mother? Have you spoken with her about it?"

  "No. I can't. Not yet anyway. I need to go and see her about this. I've been so angry though."

  "She may be able to shed more light on it. I think you need to get to the bottom of it, Ethan, or you'll never be able to move on."

  He nodded. "I did contact him. Tom. My father."

  "You did?"

  "Yep. He's married and has two kids. Weird, huh? I have two brothers."

  "Are you going to meet him? Are you going to ask him why he did what he did?"

  "I don't know if I want to or care to. But I want you to know that I forgive Lou. You know that the man was a father to me. Someone who loved me so much and wanted to protect me because he felt it was the right thing to do, even though it may not have been, proves to me that I was wrong to ever be angry with him. All he did was love me like a dad should, and now I feel horrible. The guilt is almost unbearable." He teared up.

  Ethan rarely ever cried and her heart ached for him. "You and I both know that Lou would have understood. He loved you a lot. That's obvious. So please, don't do this to yourself. Promise me? Don't keep going down this road. Talk to your mother, maybe meet this man, but most of all forgive yourself. Lou did not take your anger to his grave."

  Tears streamed down his face. "I hope not."

  "He didn't."

  "Yeah, well, I've done a lot of thinking about Lou, and you, and what you said about Summer over the past few days, and loving someone... and family. All of it. What I needed and wanted growing up was a dad. Sure, I had Lou, but there's a difference between someone who treats you like you're their kid and someone who is your dad. There just is. I can't explain it. Maybe I'm old school and believe that blood is thicker than water, though my heart knows it's ridiculous. You get love where you're supposed to. Right?" He wiped his face with the back of his hand. "Look at me, crying like a baby. Stupid."

  "No. It's not."

  "You're a good friend. I love you for that and more. Like I said, I've been doing a ton of thinking and through it all I've come to the conclusion that I have to be a father to this baby Summer and I are having. That's why I have to marry her, Michaela. I told you earlier, it's the right thing to do."

  Michaela nodded. "Well, you have always been good about doing the right thing. But do you have to rush into it? It all seems so sudden."

  "I know. I guess I'm just old-fashioned. I don't want Summer to have to walk down the aisle while seven or eight months pregnant, or after we have the baby."

  "If you were so old-fashioned, you wouldn't have jumped in bed with her. Oops. That one kind of slipped out. I'm sorry, but it's how I feel. And another thing, how do you know this is your child?"

  He looked wounded by the suggestion. "The timing is right. Of course it's my child." Oh God. Typical man. As if after sleeping with him a woman would never go to bed with another man. "Mick, it's my life. It's my child's life. I'm going to do this. With or without your support."

  "So, it's this weekend, huh?" He wasn't going to listen to reason.


  "Might as well be." He smiled.

  "I guess there's nothing more that I can say, if this is what you want."

  "Will you be there for me?"

  "Oh Ethan. I don't know. I have tickets for the rodeo, but I don't think I can go. With Lou and everything... well, I don't think so."

  "I need you there. You're my best friend. I can't imagine you not being there. Please."

  She finally nodded, still not believing that she could agree to hand Ethan over to a woman who likely could never really love him. Not in the way he deserved.

  THIRTY-TWO

  AFTER ETHAN LEFT, MICHAELA NEEDED TO GET out and work the horses. She felt bad that none of them had received the attention they should have been getting over the past few days. A workout here and there simply was not enough; it was time to get back in the saddle, so to speak. She needed to. The revelation about Ethan and Summer's impending nuptials had her in a tailspin, not to mention last night's near-miss on her life, which she still was freaked about. Her head ached a bit, but she didn't know if it was from hitting it, or from everything else that filled her mind.

  After lacing up her paddock boots, she again called the attorney who'd left her the message the day before. His secretary said that he was in court and that she'd have him return her call. As she put Leo out on a hot walker to give him some exercise, she couldn't help wondering what the lawyer wanted with her. It didn't take long for her to get involved in her work and thoughts of Ethan, Summer, attorneys, and even Jude Davis went away for the time being.

  She worked Rocky and three more horses in the arena, finally winding up on a trail ride with Booger, giving him a chance to stretch his muscles. In between she gave the horses a quick rinse and let them stand in the sun to dry before putting them back in their stalls. She worked right through lunch, and damn, it felt good. Something about getting up on her animals and working them through their paces helped to heal her.

  By the time she finished it was almost five. Where had the day gone? It almost felt like normal again. As difficult as it was, life did go on. She wondered if Davis had gotten anywhere with the information she'd given him about Dwayne. She still couldn't believe that Uncle Lou's right-hand man would have anything to do with this mess, but according to Joey, Dwayne had everything to do with it.

  She got her answer when she made it back to the house and played her messages. Jude Davis had called. "Hi Michaela. It's Davis here." Oh no! She'd forgotten their coffee date. "Sorry I couldn't make it to The Honey Bear Cottage for our coffee. I tried to reach you on your cell." She sighed. Thank God. "But I was in the middle of an interrogation. I wanted to let you know that we arrested Dwayne Yamiguchi today on charges of fraud. I don't know if they'll stick, but I made calls to the owners of the mares you mentioned, and a couple of them gave me Dwayne's name as their contact. We don't know what he did with the money yet, and of course, he's denying everything. I've also called The American Quarter Horse Association and they received your letter and DNA samples. The results should be back tomorrow. Dwayne will be arraigned in the morning and the judge will set bail. You do make a fine detective."

  So, Dwayne was behind bars for fraud. But it still didn't resolve who could have murdered her uncle. Dwayne might be a crook, but a killer? Plus, he wasn't even in town the morning Uncle Lou had been killed. Her mind wandered back to Cynthia: the anger in her eyes at the funeral service. But Davis said that her story checked out. Still, couldn't she have also had someone on the side that she was cheating with? Wasn't that a possibility?

  She didn't have time to ponder these thoughts because her doorbell rang several times, insistently. "I'm coming. I'm coming." Patience. Whoever it was certainly had none. She flung the door open. "What in the world?"

  There stood Brad, suitcase in hand. "Hi honey. I'm home."

  "Like hell you are!"

  He frowned and leaned against the doorjamb, preventing her from slamming it in his face. "Now, honey, let's get past all the bull between us. I'm here because I know we belong together. In fact, I found out that Kirsten was causing you some trouble and I told her exactly what I thought of her and that you were the best thing that ever happened to me."

  "Get off my property."

  He stuck his lower lip out. She thought about ripping it off his face. "Can't we just talk?"

  She crossed her arms. "We have nothing to talk about. If you don't get off my property, I'll call the police."

  He waved his hands in the air. "Women. Fine. Have it your way. I did a good thing for you, and you kick me like a dog." He pulled out a chewing tobacco tin and unwrapped it.

  "You are a dog. No, actually you're a cretin. I would never put you in the same category as a dog. They're far better than you could even aspire to be. You are dog shit. That's what you are."

  "You'll see what I did for you. I called the police about Kirsten. I think they'll be having a long talk with her and she's gonna be in some big trouble. And I did it for you."

  "Okay, Brad, what the hell are you babbling about?"

  "Let me in the house. We'll have a beer and talk about it."

  "Bullshit! Tell me what you're talking about and then go away. Far away. Wait a minute: When did you start chewing?"

  "Oh, that. I can stop that. Kirsten liked me to do it. Told me it was a man thing to do. Woman used to buy it for me."

  "Really?" Now wasn't that interesting, considering that Davis had found the tobacco wrapper on the ground the other night after finding the pitchfork? "What are you up to?"

  "You'll see the light after I tell you what I did. See that we belong together. That I still love you, and I know you still love me." She wanted to puke. "Kirsten knew it, and it's been killing her. She got pissed because she says I talk about you too much. But she's right. I can't stop thinking about you."

  "You seemed to have no problem not thinking about me while you were screwing her."

  "Dumb, I know. But I needed to sow my oats, stretch my wings a little." He tapped his chest. "But it's always been you, honey. Always."

  "Right." She had to ask herself again: How in the hell had she ever wound up with this idiot?

  "Anyway, I found a big-ass scratch on my new truck, and I asked Kirsten about it because she drove it to the store last night. First she tried to play all innocent. But she snapped and told me that she ran you off the road last night. That she was tired of you coming between us." It was Kirsten last night. "But, baby, I am back and I see the error of my ways, and I will never treat you badly again."

  What an ass. "I appreciate that, Brad. And, thanks for doing the right thing by turning your bimbo in to the police. She could have killed me last night. But as far as you and me—"

  "Yeah. You ready to make that baby we want so much?"

  She shook her head. "Leave!"

  "What did I say? I thought we were good."

  "Leave.

  Camden drove up and got out of her car. "What's the shithead doing here?" she asked as she approached the front door.

  "You still friends with this dumb chick? Man." He shook his head.

  "Dumb? Did you call me dumb?" Camden walked over and punched him in the nose. Hard. Nice right hook, too. "Don't ever call me dumb. I might be shallow. I might be a bitch. But I'm not dumb."

  "Ouch. What the hell? You're freaking crazy. You're both crazy bitches!" He held his bloodied nose.

  "I'll take crazy, but dumb? No," Camden replied. "Get out of here. I think you've already been asked nicely, and my left jab is even better than the right hook."

  They both cracked up watching Brad hightail it off the property. "That was amazing," Michaela exclaimed. "Where did you learn to hit like that?"

  "Kickboxing. You should come with me some time."

  "You are full of surprises. How come you punched him, though? I could've taken care of him. He would've left. I don't think I've ever seen you so angry before."

  "What can I say? I ran into Kevin earlier, and he called me dumb, too. I guess it got under my skin."

/>   "I guess!"

  Michaela told Camden about her day: Dwayne, Kirsten, and finally Ethan.

  "He's really going to marry her? Why the rush? She couldn't even be showing yet."

  "I know. I asked him about that. But you know Ethan, always the good guy, always wanting to do the right thing."

  "The stupid thing this time. How are you?"

  "What do you mean? I'm okay, I guess. Sure, I know he's making a mistake, but I'm not living his life."

  "Look, it's no secret you love him. He loves you, too."

  "He's my friend."

  "Talk to him and tell him how you feel."

  "I know you mean well, and want the best for me, but I am not in love with Ethan. And even if I was, he's having a baby with another woman. Who needs that kind of complication in their life? Ethan made his bed, he can lie in it."

  "Yeah, well, I know you'd like to lie in it with him, and I only want that for you because I love you, too."

  Michaela hugged her. "I know you do. But it wouldn't work between us. It just wouldn't."

  Camden pulled away and looked at her, obviously deciding not to push the issue any further. "Well you can't go to that wedding alone. I'm coming with you."

  "That would be great."

  "Yeah. We can stay at the Bellagio. I've got an old boyfriend who works there as one of the managers. He likes me, and can get us a real good deal. Oh, shoot. Wait a minute. I have a job interview in the morning."

  "A job interview?"

  "Yes. Believe it or not, I think it's time I get off my ass and do something for a change."

  "You're settlement isn't going to come through, is it?"

  Camden shrugged. "That obvious?"

  "Well, first off, I would never buy that you actually want to get off your butt and work."

  She laughed. "Ah, you know me so well."

  "Where's the interview?"

  "Get this, the Chanel makeup counter at Nordstrom. Free samples. Huh? Beautiful, right? And, I know I'll get it. I can do it. I can sell makeup, girl."

  "It's perfect for you. It really is." She gave Camden about a month... if she landed the job.