by Millie Mack
“Do you know the Perkins Tavern on the Old Line Road, when you take the back road into Westgate?”
“Yes, seems to me there was a time when I hung out at Perkins Tavern.”
“It’s still pretty much a hangout.” She laughed. “I’m here with some friends and just noticed that Linda Barrington wandered in. She’s sitting at the bar right now. I thought this might be a chance for you to talk to her away from the family.”
“Sara, you thought correctly. I’d love to talk to Linda Barrington. Look, it will take me about twenty minutes to get there. Do you think you can keep her there until I get there?”
“I don’t think that will be a problem. The way she has settled in at the bar, I think she’s planning on staying for a while. But don’t worry. I’ll keep my eye on her until you get here.”
Charles returned to the study with Carrie’s wineglass.
“Carrie, I have to run over to Westgate for a little bit.” Charles made the comment as he buttoned his jacket and grabbed his car keys from the kitchen rack.
Carrie looked up from the card table they were using for puzzle assembly. “Is it the phone call that’s taking you to Westgate?”
“Why do you think a phone call would take me to Westgate?” Charles loved to tease Carrie.
“Darling, we’ve lived on this farm over two years. In all that time, we’ve been to Westgate once, maybe twice. Besides, I overheard part of your phone conversation through the kitchen door.” She made a face.
“All right, you win. Here’s the skinny: Sara Chaney just called, and she’s sitting in the Perkins Tavern in Westgate.”
“You know, when this is over, we really must show Sara some better places to spend her time,” Carrie offered.
“True, but right now we should be glad Sara is at Perkins Tavern, because Linda Barrington is at the tavern, and she’s alone.”
“I take that back. Maybe we should have Sara show us where to hang out. Seems the old Clubhouse gang has a new gathering place.”
“Well, I’m about to check it out.”
“Wait a minute. I’ll get my coat and go with you. I’m beginning to get cabin fever.”
“Oh, no you don’t. It’s like buying women’s shoes. You’ll be out of place,” Charles answered firmly.
“But at least when I go shoe shopping, I let you come along for the ride.”
“This really is different, darling. According to Sara, Linda is alone and looking for company at the bar. I won’t have much pickup potential with my wife along. You’ll just have to trust me.”
“Right. Trust a man who admits he’s going to a bar to pick up women!”
“Only one woman, and hopefully she’ll have the key to this mess.” Charles bent down and kissed Carrie good-bye.
“I do trust you, darling. Are you going to leave by the secret entrance?”
“No, I think I’ll drive out the main gate. If they want to follow tonight, they can. I’ll take them for a little ride and give you a break from being watched. Don’t let anyone in, and for heaven’s sake, stay put.”
“I will. Unfortunately, I have nowhere to go. Charles, be careful. I’m not sure we’ve cleared Sara Chaney as the mystery woman, and who knows what part Linda Barrington plays in this sordid tale?”
Charles drove down the driveway slowly. He even put on his high beams. They should be able to see me coming, he thought. He stopped at the end of the driveway and lowered his lights, then spent a couple of extra seconds before he pulled out. Charles went a few blocks before he took a left onto the Allenville Pike. He checked his mirror to be sure he was being followed.
He settled in behind the wheel for some real fun. There was a little-known back way to Westgate, where he could lose his tail, but first he needed another car as a decoy. He went over the first hill and down into the valley, and as he reached the second hill, he saw a car in front. Perfect timing, he thought. He sped up and approached the back of the other car just as they dipped over the second hill. Then he quickly pulled into a small side lane and turned his lights out. He watched in the rearview mirror as his police tail went speeding after the decoy. Hopefully the police wouldn’t find out it wasn’t him until they were out of the county.
Charles turned on his lights, pulled out of the lane, and headed back toward town. A mile later, he made a left turn onto a side road and headed toward Westgate.
n the early 1900s, Perkins Tavern had been a roadhouse that served the railway depot. At that time, the Perkins Train Station had served the northern counties as well as the entire Tri-County area. The trains would stop at Perkins Station to resupply coal and water for the remaining journey. While this task was underway, the passengers could pop into the roadhouse for refreshments.
Today the only remaining building from this era was the refurbished roadhouse. The original train station had been demolished and replaced with auxiliary parking for the tavern. The trains no longer served passengers but continued an active freight line.
Outsiders who weren’t familiar with the freight schedule would park in the auxiliary lot. When they returned from their meal, they would often find a freight train blocking the path to their cars. Frustrated, they would either wait until the train workers finished their sandwiches, or climb over or under the train to the other side. This scenario was very amusing to the locals, who knew there was an underground tunnel in the basement of the tavern to take patrons to the other parking lot.
Charles found a spot in the parking lot on the tavern side. He saw on the neon sign that there would be a blues singer performing later that night. During the Roaring Twenties, locals at the tavern could have always gotten a drink with their meals. In the thirties and forties, the tavern had been a gambling house with smoke-filled rooms and a cabaret show. In the fifties, it had brought in rock ’n’ roll bands. In the sixties, it had been a coffeehouse, and over the next decades, it had given local bands and singers a chance to perform.
The roadhouse was still known for great food and drinks, but it was also a place where members of the Country Club set wouldn’t be seen. But through the years, Perkins Tavern always had a loyal following, and tonight was no different.
Inside, a huge bar split the large, open room in half. On each side of the bar, old, wooden tables were crowded with people eating overstuffed sandwiches and washing them down with draft beers. Charles stood at the door for a moment, until he spotted Sara at a table near the back. She nodded toward the left side of the bar.
Charles spotted Linda Barrington. He slipped onto a stool a few seats from her. She appeared to be enjoying her drinks and talking incessantly to two gentlemen sitting next to her. Based on the looks on the men’s faces, they were looking for an opportunity to escape.
“Linda, is that you?” Charles said, trying to sound congenial.
She stopped talking and turned in the direction of the voice. She stared momentarily until she focused.
“Charlie, Charlie Faraday.”
Charles’s facial expression never showed he hated the name Charlie.
“How did you escape?” Linda started to laugh hysterically. She finally got herself under control and said, “Gosh, that’s funny. I mean, with your wife in jail.” Linda slid off her stool and was heading down to Charlie’s end of the bar. Charles pulled the stool out next to him and steadied Linda onto it. She wore old jeans and a black sweater, which had seen several washings. She certainly didn’t look like the wife of the heir to one of the county’s huge financial fortunes.
“Carrie is actually at home. She was released on bail, and under the circumstances, I—I mean, we—felt she should avoid the public.”
“Well, you could have brought her here, because this place is where you come when you want to avoid the public. I’ll tell you something, Charlie, my boy. I’m glad you didn’t bring Carrie.”
“What about you? Are you avoiding the public?”
“Believe me, my family is very happy when I avoid the public. And I prefer a place where they don’
t ask any questions, they don’t care who you are, and they don’t care how you dress.” She touched the worn spot on her jeans.
“Since both of us seem to be kindred spirits, avoiding the public, would you allow me to buy you a drink and something to eat?” Charles added his best smile to the request.
“That’s very nice of you, Charlie. I’m drinking light beer. That way I can have lots more beer.” Linda was laughing again.
Two beers later, Charles managed to maneuver Linda into a booth along the short wall of the bar. The high, wooden back of the booth provided a certain amount of privacy. Charles ordered steak sandwiches and onion rings, hoping the grease would help soak up some of Linda’s alcohol.
“So, Charlie, how did you know about this little hiding place?”
“I came here many a night when I was a free-spirited bachelor.” Charles wanted his answer to keep Linda’s attention.
“Ooh. I’m sorry I didn’t know you then. I bet you were a lot of fun.”
“Linda, I’m still fun.”
“Hey, speaking of fun, I’m sorry about that scene at the Club—you know, when Brad and I walked into the game room. Sometimes he can be such a pompous…well, a very pompous person.” The last two words were slurred. “It’s none of his business whether you two come to the Club. You paid your dues. You’re entitled. At least until…”
“Linda, do you actually think either Carrie or I killed your brother-in-law?”
She looked into his eyes. “I know you two didn’t do it.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because you’re both kind. Even if one of you had an affair, the other one wouldn’t stand in the way of happiness. You would go your separate ways, or you would forgive and forget. That’s what love is all about.”
The waiter arrived with oversized steak sandwiches and onion rings. The sandwiches were loaded with meat, and the onion rings were extra crispy. Charles would have to bring Carrie here some night for one of these sandwiches. Linda bit into her sandwich and grabbed her napkin to catch the juices running down her chin. Several of the extra napkins fell to the floor. Charles ducked under the table to grab them. He saw that Linda had on a black pair of shoes with a gold bar, but there were no signs of flour along the edges of the soles.
“Hey, did you get lost under there?”
“I think I ducked too quickly. I lost my balance, or maybe I’m beginning to get light headed,” Charles said.
“Light as in light beer.” Linda giggled again and took a bite of her sandwich. “Now this is what I call a great sandwich. You sure wouldn’t get something like this at the Club.” Linda pronounced the word “Club” in an affected upper-class tone.
“How did you find this place? Was it while you and Brad were courting?”
“Heavens, no. Mr. Stuffed Shirt, even in his younger days, wouldn’t have been caught dead in a place like this. It was before my marriage to Brad was arranged. Someone who was fun and enjoyed a good time introduced me to this place.”
“Sounds like a first love.”
“How perceptive you are. My first love, as you call him, was fun.”
“You’re talking in the past tense. Is this person no longer…?” Charles hesitated, hoping Linda would fill in the details.
“No, he’s departed this place forever,” she said sadly. Then she looked over to make sure no one was listening. “It was Todd.” Her response was barely audible.
“Todd Barrington was your first love.” Charles was surprised. “Linda, I didn’t know. I’m sorry. But how…”
“Oh, you’re wondering how I started with Todd and ended up marrying Brad.”
“Actually, I was wondering more about you and Todd.”
“Todd and I were in love. We fell in love during college.”
Charles raised an eyebrow.
“It’s all right. Most people don’t know I even went to college. Actually, I did very well. I have a degree in business and then completed an MBA in financial management. But back then, Todd hadn’t settled on a career or even a major. When we approached our families with the idea of getting married, Todd was packaged off to a different college on the other side of the country. Then Brad and I were introduced. Suddenly, every time I went to a party, Brad and I were always coupled. Then Brad asked me to marry him. Brad’s family and my family were very much in favor of our union, and it seemed to be the right solution for everyone involved. Brad wasn’t so bad back then. We enjoyed each other’s company for a little while. Then his family responsibilities started to change him.”
“How did Todd feel about the marriage?”
She placed her drink on the table. “He didn’t come. He was wandering around Europe with friends and said he couldn’t get back in time. For a long time, he would have nothing to do with me. However, I like to think that somewhere deep inside, he still loved me. That’s why he never found anyone else. Especially since…”
Charles reached out and took her hand. “Especially since you and Todd had started to see each other again.”
“Where did you hear that?” She was startled.
“You two were seen together, and I made an assumption.”
Linda looked Charles straight in the eye. “I think you’re sincere, so I’m going to trust you. It’s true. Todd and I were seeing each other. I guess that sounds terrible. But we thought we were being discreet.”
“No, it doesn’t sound terrible. I know what it’s like when you find real love. It must have been difficult for you, being married to one brother and finding out that you’re still in love with the other one. Especially when I compare fun-loving Todd with Brad, who seems…well…boring.”
“Boring? He’s a damn robot. His father pushes the button, and Brad responds. At least Todd was his own man with his own personality, not trying to be his father’s clone.” Linda broke down and cried softly for the next few minutes. She took a few tissues from her pocket and gradually got herself under control. “I’m sorry,” she said.
“No need to be sorry. When did you start to see Todd again?”
“It started about six months ago. It was wonderful. The magic was back. At first, it was the excitement of not getting caught. We would pretend we happened to run into each other, just in case someone saw us. Then Todd purchased a condo in the city, and I often met him there. And we came here quite a lot. We used to sit in this very booth and talk about breaking away from the families and being together.”
“How was Todd going to break away from the family business? His livelihood seemed to be tied to his father’s firm.”
“We had a plan. Todd was making good money from his investments. He talked about setting up his own company. I’d be able to help him from both a business and a financial sense. I have money of my own from my grandfather. I’d be a silent partner in the new business. Once the new firm took off, we both could get out from under the influence of our families.”
Charles couldn’t help but wonder whether Todd had been honest with her. Had he really fallen back in love with her, or was this another part of his plan to hurt the family by getting Linda involved in his scheme? He asked Linda, “What was the time frame for Todd’s split from the firm?”
“We planned to start the new company right after the New Year. It would be after the company bonuses were paid. Todd was entitled to a substantial amount because of the money he’d earned for the firm. That would be his portion of the seed money for the new firm.”
“And you’re sure the family didn’t suspect the plan?”
“I’m absolutely positive. The only time we were alone was here at Perkins Tavern or Todd’s condo, and there was certainly no reason for the family to spot us at either place.”
Charles wondered about the last answer, especially in light of Sara’s spotting her tonight. “Linda, who do you think murdered Todd?”
She put her beer down and stared at the glass for a moment. “I just don’t know, and I’ve given it a great deal of thought.”
“Linda,
I’ve given it some thought as well. It seems to me there are three possibilities. Did you know there was an internal audit taking place at the firm?”
“You’re implying Todd’s dealings weren’t legitimate. There was nothing wrong with his accounts. You’re beginning to sound like the family. Everyone always assumed Todd wasn’t as brilliant as Brad. When it came to finances, Todd was razor sharp.”
Oh, if you only knew how sharp, thought Charles. “I didn’t mean to imply anything. I was just wondering why there was an audit.”
“It’s a financial house. They’re always doing audits. It’s required.”
“Then our second possibility is a jealous husband or boyfriend who thought Todd’s affections were going too far,” suggested Charles.
“That’s why you and Carrie are really the best suspects.” She laughed, but the silliness had gone out of her giggle. “I don’t really think you did it, but you have to admit that from everyone’s point of view, you two had both motive and opportunity.”
“That’s why Carrie was so easily framed. Many other husbands at the dance are suspects, but unfortunately, we had the altercation with Todd. Did you know the rumor mill had Todd involved with quite a few women during the last six months?”
“But as you said it, these were just rumors. Todd wasn’t serious about any of them; he was only seeing me,” she stated emphatically before she ate the last portion of her sandwich.
“While you know Todd was only flirting, what did the women think? And more importantly, what did their husbands think?”
“Are you talking about the old women of the Investment Club?” She sounded annoyed with the question. “They were the source of his business and the wealth that would free him. Todd told me the women at the Club were just having a little fun. None of them were truly serious about the attention Todd was paying them. Certainly none of them had any intention of leaving their husbands. I think he promoted the rumors just to annoy his father. You know, his father is expected to be the next president of the Club, and Todd thought it was amusing to flirt with the pillars of the ladies’ guild.”
