“What’s that?”
She doesn’t answer me, but stares at the envelope. Her eyes get all red and watery, then she pulls a gold pen out of her fancy purse.
“This is…for your father. And I suppose, in my way, it’s for you, too.”
She pulls some papers out of the envelope and turns around so she can write something.. Then she puts them back in the envelope and hands it to me.
“Seeing you here and how happy you are has made me realize what I need to do to be a good mother. Somehow, that gene is missing from my DNA—don’t worry, it’s not contagious. From what you’ve told me, I’m sure Marquetta has it. Give those papers to your dad tonight at your little open house. He’ll explain what will happen next.”
I can feel my forehead creasing ‘cause I’m totally confused. “I don’t understand.”
“Perhaps you will someday. I don’t know what your father did to convince your local policeman to let me go, but I have been given permission to return to New York. At least for the time being. Goodbye, Alex.”
She stands and holds out her arms. I can’t just sit here, that would be rude, so I get up and she pulls me into a hug. This time, it feels like she doesn’t want to let go.
CHAPTER 55
RICK
Rick sat across from Marquetta twirling his coffee mug in slow circles. On the horizon, which was visible through the windows over the sink, dark storm clouds drifted toward shore. “I wish I could be there with her,” he said.
Marquetta stood, went to the refrigerator and looked inside. A moment later, she closed the door and returned to her stool. “Me, too.” She smiled weakly and rubbed her cheeks. “But it’s not my place.”
Rick grabbed her hand and squeezed as he shook his head vigorously. “Are you kidding me? You would have every reason to be there. You love her like she’s your own.”
They sat, holding hands for a few more minutes, but both jumped when Alex came through the butler door. She had a white business envelope in her hand, which she continued to stare at as she came closer.
“I’m supposed to give you this at the open house.” Alex hesitated, then blurted, “But I don’t wanna be keeping secrets, so…”
“Okay, kiddo. What is it?”
“It’s from my mom.”
Rick put an arm around Alex and hugged her. “When did she give this to you? While you were upstairs with her?”
Alex nodded, stepped back from Rick’s embrace, then went to Marquetta and wrapped her arms around her. Rick slit the envelope open. His breath caught as he unfolded the document.
“What is it, Daddy?”
Rick read the signature on the page. He cleared his throat and croaked, “It’s what Jordan called the grand slam home run.”
Alex and Marquetta both stared at him blankly.
“Will you put that in English, please?” Marquetta asked.
“She’s agreed to everything.” Rick looked at Alex. “What did she say when she gave this to you?”
“She said she’d never been a good mom, so she was doing this.”
“But she didn’t want you to give this to me until the open house? Did she give you a reason?”
Alex shrugged. “She’s going back to New York.”
Rick stood and laid the document on the counter. “I need to talk to her.”
“Wait.” Marquetta bit her lower lip and rested her fingers against her throat. “Think about this before you go charging off. If she told Alex to hold onto this until tonight, maybe she doesn’t want to see you. Let her keep her dignity, Rick. It might be the most merciful thing you can do.”
Rick sat back on his stool and again looked outside. More dark clouds had appeared on the horizon. It was exactly the way his life had been with Giselle—always a storm brewing. “You’re right,” he said, then turned to Alex. “Your mother has agreed to the divorce and has relinquished her parental rights.”
“Does that mean I don’t have to leave?”
Alex leaned closer to Marquetta, and they clung to each other even more tightly.
“That’s exactly what it means, kiddo.”
Alex buried her face in Marquetta’s T-shirt and wept. Rick waited until Alex pulled away from Marquetta. Through his own blurry vision, he caught Marquetta swipe at her cheeks, then kiss Alex on the top of her head.
“Look. I hate to break this up, but I need to get these papers to Jordan. I want to get this finalized before she changes her mind.” Rick stood and promised to return as soon as possible.
Fifteen minutes later, Rick was in Jordan’s office. Jordan immediately called Beth in and gave her instructions on what to do with the signed documents. He added, “There’s something else. Beth, tell Rick what you told me about Thursday.”
Beth tugged on a long strand of hair and twirled it as she regarded Rick. “I’m sorry I didn’t say something sooner. I didn’t know this might be important.”
“I still don’t know what you’re talking about,” Rick said.
“Reese Potok. She came to see Thorne on Thursday afternoon.”
“Are you sure?” Rick looked at Beth. “We cracked the code on Thorne’s calendar. The last time he recorded an appointment with her was in November.”
“Oh, she’s been there lots of times since,” Beth said with a shake of her head. “I’ve seen her a few times a week.”
“Oh great. This means Thorne must have had appointments he didn’t list on his calendar. Is there anything else I should know?”
“She came out carrying a plastic bag. You know, the kind you get at a mall store.”
“She didn’t have the bag with her when she went in?”
“Not that I saw.”
“Beth, you told me before you threw away the package containing Thorne’s Christmas sweater gift.” Rick reached into the envelope containing the photos of Thorne’s bookcase. He handed her one of them and pointed at the second shelf. “Do you have a magnifying glass?”
“Sure.” Beth rushed out of the room and returned moments later. She studied the spot on the photo where Rick pointed.
“Do you see the photograph on the second shelf?”
“Yes.”
“Is that the same sweater that was in the package?”
“It looks the same.”
Beth handed the magnifying glass to Jordan, who did his own inspection and then said, “So Thorne had a photo of him and Reese in their matching sweaters on his bookcase? Why would he do that?”
“He didn’t.” Rick handed Jordan a second photograph. “You can see that everything is nearly identical. The exception is the framed picture on the second shelf.” He let both Jordan and Beth inspect it with the magnifying glass.
Jordan looked up at Rick from behind his desk. He still held the magnifying glass in his hand and sounded incredulous as he held up the first photo. “So Thorne took two photos of his bookcase, and the only difference between them is this photo of him and Reese in their sweaters? Why? Where did you get these?”
“Agnes knew Thorne kept his insurance photos hidden in a secret compartment of his dresser. She retrieved them when we were putting the bookshelf back together. We both saw there were two nearly identical photos of the bookshelf, but at the time we didn’t notice any differences. It wasn’t until very early this morning that I figured it out.”
Rick chuckled, then continued. “It appears Thorne believed in more than one kind of insurance. My guess is he was trying to cut Reese out of the picture altogether, and he knew she might retaliate. He wanted leverage to prove she was his co-conspirator.”
“Holy guacamole,” Beth said.
“Now all I have to do is prove that was her motive for murder. Thanks for your help—both of you. I need to make another stop before I head home.”
It took only a few minutes to walk to The Crooked Mast. As Rick stood before the entrance, he took a deep breath, hoping he’d have better luck this time with Ken than he had the last.
White linen tablecloths had been laid out, to
pped by centerpieces made of a hurricane lamp ringed with green garland. A half-dozen couples were already seated. Ken emerged from the kitchen, did a double take, then approached.
“What’s up, Rick? I was going to be heading out to your place for the open house shortly. The staff here has things under control.”
“I just wanted to ask you one question about Friday night.”
“I don’t know if you realize this, but Jordan told me not to talk about any of this without him being present.”
“I know. But this has nothing to do with you. This is about who was here Friday night while Thorne and Giselle were having dinner.” Without waiting for Ken to throw up another obstacle, Rick added, “Look, Ken, my wife may be a lot of things, but she’s not a killer. All I need is to know if Reese Potok was here Friday night.”
“Of course she was. She’s here most nights.”
“Did she see Thorne and Giselle?”
“I’m sure she did,” Ken said. “And she didn’t look any too happy about it, either.”
CHAPTER 56
RICK
When Rick arrived home, the Christmas tree lights were twinkling, the train was making its never-ending loop around Weissville, and much of the food had been laid out in the dining area. He stepped aside when Mary O’Donnell bustled through the butler door carrying a tray of muffins decorated with little ornaments atop creme cheese frosting.
Mary looked at Rick and shook her head. “You’d better change, young man. Guests will be arriving soon. Hurry, hurry!”
Rick rushed upstairs, threw on a change of clothes, and made it to the front door just as Ken and his wife carried in a large covered tray. He directed the couple toward the dining area, then turned to welcome the next guests. Soon, the hum level in the old house rose with the sounds of voices, laughter, and song. Rick poked his head into the dining room and saw Devon, Ken, and Dennis singing Christmas carols a cappella.
Someone tapped Rick’s shoulder and he jumped.
Deputy Cunningham and his girlfriend Traci stood before him, both smiling.
“There’s nobody at the front door to welcome people?” Traci said.
“Sorry. That’s my job.” Rick gave Traci a hug and then shook hands with Adam. “Did you talk to her?” Rick asked anxiously.
“You know you owe me for this.”
Traci smacked the deputy on the arm and shook her head. “Stop being mean, Adam.”
“Okay. I spoke to Phyllis Davies for you, Rick. She confirmed Darcy’s alibi and you, my friend, have one less mother to worry about in Seaside Cove.”
“Thank God. I was beginning to feel like a hunted animal.”
Deputy Cunningham scanned the room and the guests. “Are you ready to do this? Are they all here?”
“Yes. I’ll be at the front door for awhile. We can use the kitchen after all the food is out. Right now, I have more welcoming to do.”
By six, there were no more arrivals, and Rick signaled Deputy Cunningham. He got a nod in return and went to the kitchen to wait for Laurel Harris, Ken Grayson, and Dennis Malone.
They filed in one-by-one, each taking up a position around the kitchen island. Laurel leaned against the counter, one leg crisscrossed in front of the other and her arms folded over her chest. Ken planted his hands on the white granite countertop while Dennis chewed his lower lip and avoided looking at the others.
Laurel’s gaze flitted between Ken and Dennis. “What is this, the suspect club?”
“Let’s call it the Christmas sweater club,” the deputy said as he looked at Rick. “All of you received a sweater from Thorne, and you all know something that is going to help us.”
Ken’s fingers gripped the countertop as though he were trying to dig through it. “What’s up, Adam? Are you accusing all of us? If so, I’d like to have my attorney here.”
Dennis stopped glancing at the others and zeroed in on Rick and Deputy Cunningham. “I agree. What’s the point of all this?”
“The point is that each of you weren’t exactly forthright with us when we talked to you,” Rick said. “That does not, however, mean we consider you suspects. I believe Thorne had a definite agenda on Friday. He was setting up everyone for a grand showdown at the Christmas party. For instance, Dennis, his goal was to force you out of business. I checked with your landlord, and Thorne had submitted an offer to purchase the building. Mr. Johnson told me Thorne could have raised his offer and they would likely have sold anyway. So why was Thorne steadily pushing you toward making a mistake in hopes of getting them to terminate your lease?”
Dennis remained silent.
Deputy Cunningham tugged on one earlobe and kept his voice level as his green eyes settled on Dennis’s. “What we’re looking for tonight is the truth. You’re all here as witnesses. Nothing more.” He scanned the group slowly.
“Because Thorne had an ax to grind,” Laurel blurted. “He didn’t just want Exploration International to win, he wanted to destroy everyone he thought had slighted him. Dennis and Ken were the first in his sights, and Thorne wasn’t about to let them get away with even a shred of dignity.”
“When I had it out with him in November, he promised to grind me into little bits,” Dennis said. “In some ways, I feel like he’s won even though he’s dead.”
Rick nodded, then turned back to Laurel. “I assume you know now that your affair with Thorne is public knowledge.”
She closed her eyes and shook her head. “I am so sorry I ever dated that man.”
Adam reached out and laid a hand on her shoulder. “Everyone makes mistakes. You have nothing to be ashamed of.”
“Other than being a fool for believing a man who was a proven liar? No, Adam, I have a lot to be ashamed of. My goal is to put the experience behind me and never make the same mistake again.”
“We’re not here to judge you,” Rick said. “After dinner on Friday night, you went to Thorne’s house. Correct?”
Laurel wrapped her arms around her sides and nodded. “Yes. But I didn’t kill Thorne. Your wife was there with him.”
“I know,” Rick said. “You told us. And she didn’t deny she was there. But you didn’t just watch from the street, did you?”
“No.” She shook her head and took a ragged breath. “I barged in and started accusing your wife of—well, I wasn’t nice at all.”
“And what happened after that?”
“Your wife ran out while I had it out with Thorne. We argued for about fifteen minutes. He was drunk. I’d never seen him so belligerent. When he told me he was leaving me and this ‘backwoods hamlet’ behind, I broke down and left. That’s when I went home.”
“You drove to San Ladron after that?”
“Yes. I left around ten.”
“You also told us before that you went by Thorne’s house when you got back to town.”
“Yes. It was probably quarter-to-eleven by then. So I sat there for a few minutes thinking about what he’d said and it suddenly hit me. I never even really liked the man. I knew he was going to be leaving town Sunday morning, so I figured I could slip in and get my things before he got back. When I heard he was dead, I realized how bad it was going to look. You know the rest.”
Rick laid a hand on Laurel’s shoulder and nodded. “Thank you. I know that was hard. So we have Thorne alive with Giselle at eight-thirty, but most likely dead by about what time Laurel? Eleven?”
“That’s about right.”
“Did you see anyone else that night?”
“You mean at Thorne’s?” Laurel asked. “No…wait…yes, Reese was parked across the street when I got there, but I think she was gone when I left. I was so upset I couldn’t say for sure, though.”
Rick nodded and turned to Dennis. His gray eyes were wide and alternately darted between Rick and Deputy Cunningham.
“Dennis, I have a question for you and I need an honest answer.”
Dennis cut his eyes to one side, then the other and grimaced. “Is this about Santa Cruz?”’
�
��Only indirectly,” Rick said. “First, how are things going with your landlord?”
“They’re ‘investigating’ to determine whether I’m running drugs out of my shop.”
“I talked to them during my trip to San Ladron on Wednesday,” Deputy Cunningham said. “I’ll be sending them a letter clearly stating you have not now, nor have you ever, conducted illegal activities out of your store. Further, I’ve explained our suspicions about Thorne’s motives for the complaints he filed.”
Dennis’s shoulders shook and he rubbed his forehead. His eyes were moist when he glanced up at the deputy. “Thank you, Adam.”
Deputy Cunningham nodded. “No problem. However, we know you had an argument with him on Friday at three. Is that correct?”
“It happened in front of the store. I was setting up a new display when I saw him coming. I went out onto the street to tell him to leave me alone. Things got out of hand.”
“Did anyone see this argument?”
“A couple of my customers, but they were from out of town. They took off when things got heated.”
“Tell me about the incident in November. Did it get physical?” Rick asked.
Dennis licked his lips and his shoulders fell. “That’s when this whole thing started.”
“Did you hit Thorne during that disagreement? Remember, Francine was a witness,” Rick said.
“Figures,” Dennis muttered.
“She was putting up garland. Tell me your side. What happened?”
“Alright, I took a swing at him. He deserved it.”
“What about last Friday? What happened then?”
“He started badgering me again. I guess his plan was taking longer than he wanted.”
Rick nodded knowingly, but held Dennis’s gaze. “What do you mean by badgering?”
“He made me an offer on the store. I knew what he wanted to do to this town. I told him I’d think about it, mostly because he’d worn me down. As much as I hated the thought of him winning, it seemed like he held all the cards. Marianne’s been threatening to leave me because of all the stress. We were talking about starting over someplace else.”
The Killer Christmas Sweater Club Page 22
