A Deal to Die For

by Josie Belle

  “Outside?” Maggie asked. “You should have run for a phone.”

  “I panicked,” Bianca said. Her nose was red, and her eyes were watery with unshed tears.

  “It’s okay,” Maggie said. “I’m here and I have a phone.”

  She fished the phone out of her purse. She was about to make the call when she realized Bianca had been outside for a while. Was Courtney waiting for her to come back inside so she could ambush her again? Or had something happened to Courtney?

  “How long have you been out here?” she asked.

  “I don’t know, fifteen, maybe twenty minutes,” Bianca said.

  “Tell the sheriff what happened,” Maggie said as she dialed and handed the phone to Bianca. “I’m going to go check things out. Lock the doors behind me.”

  Bianca took the phone, and Maggie left the car running.

  The front door still stood open like a gaping mouth, and light poured out as if in a silent scream. Maggie stiffened her shoulders and walked up the steps. She was nervous, which was ridiculous. So Courtney had tried to grab Bianca by the hair; she certainly wasn’t about to do that to Maggie.

  The foyer was empty. The sound of a clock ticking was the only noise. It was so quiet that Maggie could swear she heard the rush of blood pounding in her ears, but maybe that was just nerves.

  “Courtney?” she cried out. “It’s Maggie Gerber.”

  She didn’t know what she expected, but the continued ticking of the clock was the only sound to answer her call.

  The house was huge, and she didn’t really want to look for Courtney on her own. The woman would probably have her carted off for trespassing; still, she thought she should check a few rooms at least.

  She decided to start with the study, as it had a light on. There was a fire going, and the room was toasty warm. She’d taken four steps into the room when she saw a shoe lying on its side. It had a spiky heel and was a shade of pink found only on the underbelly of a flamingo. Not Bianca’s then.

  Maggie was drawn into the room with a feeling of dread. She hoped desperately to find Courtney passed out on the couch, clutching an empty bottle of vodka and a pack of cigarettes. No such luck.

  Courtney was sprawled on the floor. Her luxurious hair covered her face, and from where Maggie was standing, she couldn’t see if she was breathing.

  “Oh no, not again.” Maggie lurched forward and dropped to her knees beside Courtney.

  She lifted her up and saw a hypodermic needle on the floor beside her. Maggie stared stupidly at it, before she turned her attention back to Courtney.

  She was still breathing, but it was shallow. Maggie put her fingers to the pulse point on Courtney’s neck and noted that her heartbeat was sluggish. She lifted one of the lids of Courtney’s eyes and noticed that her pupils had shrunk to tiny pinpricks amid the irises.

  “Wake up, Courtney,” she said as she lifted her head and patted her cheek. “Wake up.”

  Courtney moaned, resisting Maggie and reassuring her that she was not gone yet. Maggie set Courtney gently back against the floor. She hurried to the desk in the corner where there was a phone and quickly called 911.

  Maggie stayed with Courtney until the EMTs arrived and took over. Hot on their heels was Sam, who looked as tired as Maggie felt. He and Maggie stood aside, watching while the emergency personnel took care of Courtney.

  “What happened?” he asked.

  Maggie told him why she was there. Surprisingly Sam said nothing. She told him about finding Bianca outside and deciding to come and check for Courtney. Then she held out the needle that she’d carefully picked up.

  “Sam, I found this beside Courtney,” she said.

  Maggie had pushed the needle into an envelope she’d found on the desk with the capped end of a pen.

  “I didn’t touch it,” she said.

  Sam looked in the envelope and blew out a breath. He was about to say something when the EMTs loaded up Courtney and headed for the door.

  “Thanks, Maggie,” he said. He took the envelope and walked the EMTs out the front door.

  Maggie wasn’t sure what to do with herself, but she felt cold all the way down to her bones, so she went and stood by the fireplace, holding her hands out to the flames to warm them up.

  Formal portraits in silver frames graced the mantel, and Maggie studied the Madison faces. The portraits were mostly of Vera, who looked stunning in every photograph, but a few had Buzz and Bianca as well. Maggie was surprised Courtney hadn’t gotten rid of them, but she suspected Courtney wasn’t one to spend much time in a study.

  Maggie hated to admit it, but as she went down the line and followed Vera back into her youth, she couldn’t help but see why Doc had fallen for her. She had been a truly stunning woman. A portrait taken in the eighties showed Vera holding a baby who had to be Bianca, with a beaming Buzz standing by her side.

  Maggie glanced at a picture of Bianca, probably taken while she was in high school. She was tall and thin, much like Vera had been, but where Vera had sharp, striking features that captured one’s attention, Bianca’s appearance was always obscured, as if she was perpetually out of focus.

  Bianca’s face was softly rounded, her eyes a pale blue. Maggie tried to remember what Buzz Madison had looked like, but he had died before she really knew enough to pay attention to people like the Madisons. The only memory she had of him was at the annual Memorial Day parade when she was very young.

  Maggie’s father had taken her to the parade just months before he’d died, and he had held her up on his shoulders so she could see. She remembered watching the people in the grandstand.

  Vera had always drawn people’s attention because of her movie-star good looks. Maggie remembered thinking Vera was beautiful in her white sundress with her auburn hair falling down her shoulders in a wavy cascade, while the man beside her had been big and loud in an ugly brown suit with a yellow shirt—it had been the seventies, after all—and he had seemed to suck up all the energy around him as if he were greedy for every possible drop of attention.

  His hair had been thick and brown, and it stuck up in the back of his head. He had a solid build and reminded Maggie of a large brick wall. He had shouted and clapped louder than anyone when the parade participants went by, and Maggie remembered feeling happy that her dad was a quieter, easier sort of man.

  Maggie studied the picture of Buzz as a young man. He had been handsome, but in a tough-guy sort of way, with a strong nose and a rugged chin. She wondered if that was why Vera had sought comfort with Doc, a man who was soft-spoken and kind. Maggie glanced back at Bianca’s picture and realized that she could safely say she saw neither of her parents in her.

  “Maggie, I need to talk to Bianca,” Sam said as he stepped back into the room.

  “She’s in the kitchen with Molly,” Maggie said. “Can I come with you? I’d like to check on her.”

  “Sure, you might be of help,” he said.

  Maggie followed him through the huge house to the kitchen. It had been modernized over the years and was a cozy room with granite counters, dark-wood cupboards and large windows that filled one wall and during the day offered a gorgeous view of the gardens and sprawling back lawn.

  It was dark outside those windows now, causing them to reflect the contents of the kitchen onto the dark glass like a mirror.

  Molly sat beside Bianca at the counter. Bianca had changed into warmer clothes, and her hair was almost dry. She had called Molly right after she’d called the police, and Molly had come right away, bringing Jimmy with her.

  Jimmy was standing by the kitchen table, folding a basket of towels. He was very methodical, and he had his headphones on. His head bobbed in time to the music he was listening to, and when he saw her, he formed the name Maggie on his lips before he went back to folding.

  He had a thick thatch of unruly black hair and a long nose that was surprisingly masculine in such a young face. Maggie glanced from him to the others, and Molly gave her a small smile.

 
“I couldn’t leave him home alone,” she explained. “Taking care of his own laundry is one of the life skills he is mastering. Luckily, I had a basket to bring with us, so he can be occupied while we get this situation sorted out.”

  “I’m so sorry to drag you out at night,” Bianca said. She was clutching a cup of cocoa. “I just didn’t know who else to call. You and Jimmy are the only family I have left.”

  “Well, not according to Courtney,” Molly said. Her voice was angry, and Maggie couldn’t blame her. Courtney had been nothing but mean to Molly ever since she’d arrived.

  “Bianca, I know it’s been a rough night, but could you tell me what happened from the beginning?” Sam asked.

  Bianca nodded while Molly put two mugs of steaming cocoa with marshmallows in front of Maggie and Sam. Maggie picked hers up eagerly. She felt as if the chill of the night had gotten into her bones, and she eagerly took a small warming sip, letting the sweet cocoa work its magic on her insides.

  “Like I told Maggie,” Bianca began, “I was taking a bath when Courtney burst in. She seemed drunk; or at least, she was wobbling on her feet, and then she tried to snatch some of my hair.”

  Bianca looked toward the door, as if remembering. “I managed to get away, but she was chasing me, so I ran outside. Luckily, Maggie arrived, and then I called you.”

  “Why would she try to grab your hair?” Maggie asked.

  “I don’t know,” Bianca said. “But she kept laughing and saying, ‘Who’s your daddy, now?’ It was very frightening.”

  Maggie and Sam exchanged a look. She knew without a doubt that he was thinking the same thing she was. That Courtney had decided to snatch some of Bianca’s hair and use it for a paternity test, because the best possible way to prove that Bianca had no claim on the estate would be to prove that Buzz wasn’t her father. And that would also prove that Vera had cheated, and if a judge upheld the letter that Courtney had, then the entire estate would go to her as Buzz’s sole heir.

  “Has she lost her mind?” Molly asked. “What could she have been thinking?”

  “Bianca, do you have any idea what set Courtney off?” Maggie asked. “Why she’d do something like this?”

  “Honestly?” Bianca gave her a look like she didn’t want to tell her.

  “Yes,” Maggie said.

  “It was the key to the storage unit,” Molly said when Bianca hesitated. “Isn’t that what set her off, Bianca?”

  “Yes,” Bianca sighed. “Courtney demanded that I give her the key, but when I refused, Courtney just snapped.”

  Maggie lifted her eyebrows in surprise. She wouldn’t have thought Bianca had enough backbone to refuse.

  “She seemed to think I had you hiding documents and such in there,” Bianca said. She shook her head. “I told her it was just clothes, but she didn’t believe me.”

  Sam finished his cocoa in one gulp and went to put the mug in the sink, but Molly took it from him.

  “Is Courtney going to be all right?” Bianca asked.

  “Once she sleeps off her drunken bender, I’m sure she’ll be fine,” Molly said. Her voice was disapproving.

  Maggie said nothing, not knowing how much to say.

  “The EMTs seemed to think that they got to her in time,” Sam said.

  Bianca looked relieved, while Molly frowned.

  “She’s a difficult person,” Bianca said. “But I don’t wish her any harm.”

  Maggie patted Bianca’s hand. “We know.”

  “Still, she’s a danger to you,” Molly said. “Sam, is this enough to press charges and get Courtney out of here?”

  “For good?” Bianca asked.

  “Well, at least until the court date,” Molly said. “You shouldn’t have to be afraid of your own sister.”

  “I don’t think Courtney will be coming home tonight,” Sam said. “If you want to put in for a restraining order—and I agree with Molly that you should—then come on down first thing in the morning, and we’ll get it done.”

  Bianca looked at Molly and then at Maggie as if hoping they would tell her what to do. She pushed her frameless glasses up on her nose. She had gotten dressed in slacks and loafers with a turtleneck and a cardigan. She looked very much the part of the spinster heiress.

  She also looked overwhelmed, and Maggie felt bad for her. Her life had been turned upside down and didn’t show signs of righting itself anytime soon.

  “I don’t…I was scared,” she said. “But it was mostly because she kept screeching at me. She didn’t have a weapon or anything.”

  “Technically, what she did was assault or, at the very least, attempted assault,” Sam said. “You could press charges against her.”

  Bianca looked alarmed, as if she was trying to picture how Courtney would handle that.

  “What’s going to happen to her?” she asked.

  “We’ll have to see what they say at the hospital,” Sam said. “I doubt we’ll know what sort of shape she’s in until tomorrow.”

  “Oh,” Bianca said. “I need to think about all of this. Will you all excuse me?”

  “Sure,” Sam said. “If you need to contact me about anything, anything at all, you can reach me at this number.”

  He handed Bianca a card, which she slipped into her pocket.

  “Thank you,” Bianca said.

  She slipped down the hallway like someone who was used to walking without making any noise. She had probably learned to move like that to keep out of her mother’s notice.

  “Poor kid,” Molly said. “She’s had a hell of a week.”

  “Yeah,” Sam agreed. “I’m going to give her tonight to get over the incident, but I’ll need her to come to the station and give a formal statement, whether she intends to press charges or file for a restraining order or not.”

  Molly nodded in understanding. Sam began walking to the front door, and Maggie followed with Molly.

  “Has she gotten a chance to start planning Vera’s service?” Maggie asked.

  “The pastor was over yesterday, and they spent a good deal of time talking about the service. Vera’s bridge partners have all been by, too. Bianca is just awaiting the release of the body from the medical examiner,” Molly said.

  “I have some news on that,” Sam said. “Vera’s body will be released tomorrow, as the autopsy has been completed.”

  “Well, maybe that will help put her mind at ease,” Molly said. “Do they know what caused her death?”

  “The report was sent to me this afternoon, but I haven’t had a chance to look at it yet,” Sam said. “I’ll be in touch as soon as I know.”

  “Thanks, Sam,” Molly said. “Since Jimmy and I are here now, I think we’ll stay the night just to keep Bianca from being alone. She and Jimmy practically grew up together. She’s one of the few people that I know he has a fondness for. Bianca must have been terrified when Courtney came after her like that, and this house can be…intimidating at night.”

  “I’m sure Bianca will be grateful,” Maggie said.

  Sam opened the door for Maggie and followed her out into the cold night. Maggie could taste the sweet chill of the coming winter on her tongue like melted molasses being poured onto the snow. She wondered when they’d have their first snowfall, and she burrowed deeper into her jacket.

  “Call me if you need me,” Sam said.

  “Will do,” Molly said, and closed the door after them. With a click, they heard the lock snap into place, and they headed down the front steps to their cars.

  “So you have the autopsy report?” Maggie asked.

  Sam nodded but said nothing.

  “So, do they know what killed Vera?” she asked.

  Sam looked at her, and Maggie blew out a breath. “Oh please, don’t brush me off like Molly. I know you looked at it. What do you know, Sam?”

  They stopped beside Maggie’s car. Sam opened the door for her, but she didn’t get in.

  “The toxicology reports will take two weeks,” Sam said. “But, yes, it does appear that
Vera Madison died from an overdose of a narcotic analgesic, just like Doc confessed.”

  Maggie felt as if the world had suddenly lurched on its axis. No, this couldn’t be. Doc wasn’t a killer.

  “Maggie, are you all right?” Sam grabbed her arm.

  “I just—I don’t believe it,” she said with a shake of her head. “Doc isn’t a killer.”

  “Well, for once we’re in agreement,” Sam said. “I don’t think he did it either, but if not Doc, then who?”

  Chapter 26

  “Someone who has access to morphine,” Maggie said.

  “Yeah, here’s the thing with that,” Sam said. “Injectable morphine can only be gotten in a dispensary. Unless Doc wrote a prescription for it, it’s not something he would have in the office. And we don’t know for sure yet that it was morphine, we only know that it was a narcotic analgesic. Morphine is what Doc said he used, and he could have been bluffing.”

  “Do you think he was?” she asked.

  “About killing Vera? Definitely,” Sam said. “About it being morphine? Don’t know yet.” He patted the pocket where he’d put the envelope containing the syringe. “But this may be the final clue. I’m going to check it for prints as soon as I’m back at the station. Since Doc and Alice were both in custody when Courtney went on her rampage, it could be that Courtney is who we’re looking at after all.”

  “Do you think she injected herself?” Maggie asked.

  “She could be an addict,” Sam said. “She might have had access to the drug and, despite her alibi, she could have been the one who injected Vera, or she could have had someone do it for her.”

  “Wow,” Maggie said.

  “Speaking of Courtney, I’d better get to the hospital. I told the EMTs to look for needle tracks, and I suggested she was a possible overdose.”

  “I hope she’s luckier than Vera was,” Maggie said.

  Sam nodded. He looked as if he wanted to say something, but instead he stepped away from her car and strode toward his own.

  “Good night, Maggie,” he called through the darkness. “Be safe.”

  “Good night, Sam.”

  Bianca had left Maggie’s keys in the ignition. Maggie closed her door and fired up the engine. As she drove down the long driveway, she couldn’t help but notice that she felt oddly bereft, as if she was missing someone or something. Maggie shook it off and turned right out of the driveway and headed for home.