by J A Whiting
“He must have killed both of them.” Maddy was still gazing out of the window. The fury in her voice startled Claire.
“You mean Dad?” When Vanessa put her hand on Maddy’s shoulder, her sister shrugged it off.
“Yes, him,” Maddy paused and added in a whisper, “that monster.”
Claire and Nicole shared a look of concern at the anger Maddy gave off.
“Have you talked with your father recently?” Claire questioned.
Vanessa shook her head. “It’s just as well.”
The limo came to a stop in front of the neighborhood restaurant located less than a mile from the Dodd’s home and the young women got out.
“I’m walking home. I can’t go in. I’ve had enough,” Maddy said with determination.
Vanessa was about to say something, but changed her mind. She gave her sister a hug and Maddy strode away down the sidewalk.
Claire noticed Ian standing off to the side of the parking lot speaking with a tall man wearing a suit, so she and Nicole waited. Vanessa told her friends that she would meet them inside the restaurant. When Ian and the man’s conversation ended, the detective waved them over.
Ian explained, “I don’t want to get close to the entrance. I’m here unofficially. The detective in charge is a friend, he asked if I’d stop by today and take a look around.”
“Vanessa told us the prosecutor wants to take the case before a grand jury in order to bring Dr. Dodd to trial,” Claire reported to her training partner.
“I heard that. It seems like the right thing to do.”
“Was it helpful for you to be at the service?” Nicole asked.
“I was just checking over the crowd, having a look at who was there. It doesn’t often lead to anything.”
“Dr. Dodd was among the missing at the cemetery.” Claire made eye contact with Ian.
“I noticed. Probably not the smartest thing he could have done. The doctor isn’t doing himself any favors.”
“Is there any news about Representative Lowe?” Nicole asked.
Ian shifted his feet. “There’s no evidence of foul play. That’s off the record so keep that quiet.”
Claire said, “But would there be any evidence if someone Ms. Lowe knew came to the townhouse and she let him in? An argument might have started, there could have been some angry words exchanged. Someone could have shoved Ms. Lowe causing her to fall down the stairs. What evidence would there be in that case?”
A smile spread over Ian’s face. “I suppose that’s a good point.”
Ian often talked in riddles when Claire or Nicole asked him about a case he couldn’t discuss.
Claire raised an eyebrow. Her ability to interpret Ian’s comments was getting better. “I’m going to take that to mean the investigation into Victoria Lowe’s death is on-going.”
“I never said that.” Ian’s brown eyes brightened as he tried to suppress a smile.
“Right, and we didn’t see you here today either.” Nicole shook her head. “You have any other cryptic messages for us?”
“Not at the moment except that you both need stay away from the investigation … for your own safety.” Ian’s phone buzzed and he removed it from his pocket. “I mean it.”
“Before you run off,” Nicole said, “when we were on the hillside at the cemetery, Claire had the feeling we were being watched by someone in that group of trees that was behind where you were standing.”
Claire’s eyes bugged in horror that Nicole revealed to Ian what she’d sensed and told her friend before they left the cemetery.
Ian looked at Claire. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It was only a feeling. I didn’t see anyone.”
“I’ll check it out anyway.” Ian started away. “I need to return this call. See you in the morning to bike,” he told Claire.
When Ian was back in his car, Claire faced Nicole. “Why did you tell him that?”
“We didn’t have time to check it out with the funeral service going on. I thought we should tell him.”
“I’d rather not.” Claire rolled her eyes. “Ian can’t know about my intuition and if we’re always telling him I’ve had a feeling about something, he’ll think I’m crazy.”
“You’re right. I just thought he should know. I didn’t think it through.”
Claire got a faraway look on her face.
“Claire?” Nicole snapped her fingers.
Blinking, the curly-headed blonde shook herself. “Something’s … not right.”
“I’ll say it isn’t,” Nicole started to walk toward the restaurant entrance. “I haven’t eaten for hours. I’m starving. Let’s go into the luncheon.”
“Nic.” Claire hadn’t moved from her spot. “Something’s wrong.”
Turning slowly, Nicole faced her friend with worry etched over her forehead, but before she could ask what the issue was a woman’s voice called to them from the door of the restaurant. Vanessa, looking frantic, waved to the young women as she hurried down the steps and practically ran into the parking area.
The tone in Vanessa’s voice chilled Claire.
“Maddy called me. She’s at home. Someone broke into our house.”
“Tell her to get out of the house.” Claire’s words came out in a rush. “Someone could still be inside. Tell her to call the police once she’s outside.”
Noticing the agitated looks on the three women’s faces, Ian pulled his car to a stop next to them and put the window down to hear Claire’s report of trouble at the Dodd’s house.
“Get in.” Ian spoke into his phone as Claire, Nicole, and Vanessa climbed into the car.
A police car sped to the curb as Ian pulled up to the home. Vanessa leapt out calling for her sister. She spotted Maddy standing across the street in front of the neighbor’s house and hurried to her.
“When a funeral notice gets printed in the news, it can alert robbers to an empty house,” Ian said. “It’s likely that’s what’s happened here. The officer and I will go through the place, make sure no one’s inside, then we’ll call in Maddy and Vanessa to take a look around, see if anything’s missing.”
The sisters crossed to the sidewalk in front of their house and stood with Claire and Nicole.
“Are things in disarray inside?” Claire asked Maddy.
“My father’s office is.” Tears glistened at the corners of Maddy’s eyes. “The desk drawers are pulled out onto the floor. Papers are everywhere. I walked through the living room and into the kitchen thinking my father might be home and that maybe he had a fit in his office. I went looking for him. Nothing else was out of place.”
“Maybe you disturbed a robbery in process,” Nicole surmised. “Maybe the person heard you and took off out the back.”
The police officer stepped out from the front door and gestured for the Dodd sisters to come into the house.
Nicole sighed. “It’s just one thing after the other.”
Claire stared at the stately home surrounded by the lush green lawn. “My head is spinning and you’re not going to like what I’m about to say.”
Nicole’s eyebrows raised, but she didn’t speak.
“Maddy was here right after her mother fell. Maddy was here right when the robbery was taking place. Maddy is angry as heck about her father’s affair. We don’t know if Maddy took a cab home after the show at the Opera House in order to get here earlier than if she’d taken the train.”
“Claire….” Nicole’s voice shook. “It can’t be Maddy, can it?”
“Maybe she and her mother fought over whether or not to divorce the doctor. Does Dr. Dodd know that Maddy is responsible for Grace’s fall from the window? Is that why he’s acting so oddly? Is he trying to protect Maddy?”
“Oh, no.” Nicole let out a moan. “Oh, no.”
18
After the daily rush and the shop had closed for the day, Nicole, Claire, and Robby worked in the back room to fill orders for an upcoming wedding. The sweet smell of chocolate floated on the ai
r amid the sounds of mixers whirring at full capacity.
“Why did I agree to this contract?” Nicole sighed. “I’m exhausted.”
“Hang in there. We’re almost done.” Claire had a smudge of chocolate on her forehead.
Robby stood off to the side working at the stainless steel counter wrapping chocolate lollipops in cellophane and tying them with ribbons. He’d been unusually quiet during the hours-long process and Claire studied his face when he wasn’t paying attention trying to figure out what was going on with him. Placing the last pop in the case used for transporting the sweets to the venue, Robby stretched and rubbed his lower back. “Done,” he announced.
“They look great.” Nicole praised the young man. “Maybe I’ll give you a bonus for staying late.”
“I’ll need it,” Robby mumbled as he untied his apron, pulled it over his head, and tossed it into the laundry.
Claire eyed him as he walked past to get his windbreaker. “You feel okay?”
“Fine.” Robby’s curt reply signaled that he certainly was not fine.
“Hey.” Claire rested the spoon on the counter. “What’s going on?”
Nicole, aware of her young employee’s somber demeanor, lifted her eyes from her task to see how Robby reacted.
Robby glanced over at Nicole. “You need a year-round, full-time employee?”
“Why? What do you mean?”
“I need a job.”
“You have a job.” Nicole walked around from behind the counter. “You can’t go to school and work full-time.”
“Exactly.” Robby’s voice was choked.
Putting her hand on his shoulder, Claire tried to pick up on what was bothering her co-worker. “Tell us what’s wrong.”
The skin on Robby’s chin trembled and he held his lips tightly together, but then he blurted, “My mom lost her job. She can’t help me with tuition. I’ve maxed out my loans. I won’t be able to go back to school at the end of August.”
Claire wrapped him in a hug as several tears escaped from the young man’s eyes. “There must be a way,” she said softly.
“If there is, I’d like to hear it.” Robby swiped at his wet cheeks. “I’m all out of ideas.”
“How much does tuition cost?” Nicole wiped her hands on a dish towel.
When Robby told her, Nicole almost fainted. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
“I wish I was.”
Nicole made quick eye contact with Claire who gave a slight nod.
“You’re way too talented to give up your musical education,” Claire said.
“Tell that to the financial aid office.” Robby sank onto a chair.
Leaning against the counter, Claire said, “Go to the financial aid office and tell them what happened. Talk to them about private benefactors. They might know of people who want to assist worthy students in need. If they don’t, ask them to point you to an outside agency that might know of such people. Don’t give up. Things have a way of working out. Go to the aid office on Monday. Be polite, but persistent. There’s no way you’re throwing your talent away. You need to stay in college to make contacts and learn the business side of the industry.”
Robby bit his lower lip, then gave a slight nod. “I guess it’s worth a try.”
Nicole hugged him. “We’re almost done here. Wait for us to finish. I’m taking the three of us out to dinner tonight.”
A tiny grin formed on Robby’s face and his reply made Claire and Nicole chuckle. “I won’t refuse a free meal,” he said.
Nicole playfully bopped his shoulder. “Don’t get used to it.”
When the work had been completed and the sweets packed away for morning delivery, the three shop workers headed to the restaurants on Newbury Street for a late night meal.
“I’m starving.” Robby walked between the women as they moved along the sidewalk filled with people strolling along with friends or family. The streetlamps flickered on and the branches of trees lining the street were wrapped with twinkling white lights. The warm, clear summer evening air enveloped them.
Choosing a restaurant, they asked to be seated outside on the patio and were told there would be a wait so they headed to stand at the bar and enjoy a drink amid the congenial atmosphere of the chattering patrons.
“I’m feeling better,” Robby said.
Claire smiled. “Good. Don’t give up hope.”
Nicole squeezed the young man in a hug. “I have a good feeling about this.”
Robby looked at Claire. “Hold my hand.”
Raising an eyebrow, Claire frowned. “Why?”
“Hold my hand.” Robby stuck his right hand out. “Try to sense something. Tell my fortune. Do you see music in my future?”
“Come on. I can’t do anything like that.” Claire scoffed. “You said your grandmother had some sort of skills. Ask her.”
“She’s dead.” Robby extended his arm towards Claire. “You sensed my secret audition last time you held my hand.”
Claire blubbered something trying to brush off her feeling about the audition as a coincidence or that she might have overheard Robby mention it, but Nicole stepped in. “Just hold his hand. Give it a try.”
“Humor me,” Robby grinned.
Letting out a long sigh, Claire reached for the hand that Robby held out and grasped it. She closed her eyes and hummed, ‘Om,’ in an attempt to make light of the situation.
“Be serious,” Robby chided.
Claire went silent and tried to concentrate, but something blocked her and she felt like she needed to shake off whatever the obstacle was. An annoying buzzing played in her head. Dropping Robby’s hand, she rubbed her forehead. “I can’t feel anything.”
Nicole eyed her friend. “Nothing?”
“Nothing about Robby.”
“Do you have a headache?” Alarm showed on Nicole’s face. “Is something wrong?”
Claire’s head pounded and the noise in the place became almost painful to her ears. About to ask the bartender for a glass of water, Claire spotted Vanessa sitting at a high table across the room engrossed in conversation with a man.
Following Claire’s gaze, Nicole spotted the woman and said with surprise, “There’s Vanessa. Are you okay? We should go over to say hello.”
“I don’t know,” Claire hesitated, but Nicole didn’t hear the reluctance and started across the room weaving through the crowd.
As they approached the table, the man opposite Vanessa aggressively grabbed her wrist and when he noticed people coming near, he dropped his hand.
“Oh, hi.” Vanessa blinked at the unexpected threesome and quickly placed her hand onto her lap.
“We’re waiting for a table.” An air of discomfort hovered around everyone and it made Nicole wish she hadn’t suggested coming over to talk. “This is Robby. He works at the shop.”
Vanessa appeared to recover somewhat from her surprise at seeing them at her table and she introduced her companion. “This is Matthew Adams.” Even though he was sitting, the man gave the impression that he was tall. He had broad shoulders and brown hair flecked with gray cut short against his scalp. A prominent forehead and dark, heavy eyebrows emphasized his deep set, dark eyes. A serious intensity poured off of him.
Claire, estimating Matthew to be in his late forties, was the last to shake hands with him. Uncomfortable zings of electricity bit at her fingers when their skin touched and she let go. “Sorry to interrupt your conversation. We spotted you from the other side of the bar.” Turning to Vanessa, she asked, “How’s Maddy?”
Vanessa pushed her long dark hair over her shoulder. “She’s been upset, of course. The police officer talked with her and was reassuring. The person who broke in was most likely someone who read about the funeral service and knew the house would be empty. The officer told us that it’s a very common thing. Maddy must have disturbed the robber in action causing him to run off.”
“I’m glad she’s okay.” Claire took a quick look at Matthew who appeared bored and distracted.
The man stood and said, “Excuse me,” as he headed off to the restroom.
“Is everything okay?” Nicole asked gingerly.
Vanessa wouldn’t make eye contact. “Yeah. I needed a break from everything. We came out for a quick drink.”
“Is this the guy Maddy is unhappy about?” Claire asked.
Vanessa’s face hardened. “Yes.”
“Have they met yet?” Nicole questioned.
“It’s too much to introduce them right now … with everything that’s going on.” Vanessa took a sip from her wine glass. “I’m feeling run-down. I think we’ll head out once Matthew comes back.”
The restaurant buzzer went off in Nicole’s purse to indicate their table was ready and she moved in to give Vanessa a hug. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Take care of yourself. Try to get some rest.”
Seated for dinner, Robby took a look across the room to where Vanessa and Matthew had been sitting. “I don’t like that guy.”
“Why not?” Claire kept her similar feelings to herself.
“He gave off some weirdo vibe.” Robby picked up the menu. “A tough guy or some lousy boss type of person. You know, a know-it-all. He doesn’t have time for peons. Too important.”
“We seem to have interrupted an argument.” Nicole leaned forward. “They seemed angry with each other. Did you notice how roughly Matthew gripped Vanessa’s wrist?”
“What was that about?” Robby’s eyebrows scrunched together. “Why is your friend with such a loser? You better step in and warn her off the guy.”
With a worried expression, Nicole glanced across the table to Claire. “What did you think?”
“I think Vanessa is making a poor choice.” Claire’s hand still vibrated from the electrical pings she’d experienced while holding Matthew Adams’s hand. “I don’t think he’s a very nice person.”
“That’s the understatement of the year,” Robby moaned.
Claire couldn’t have agreed more.
19
Sitting around the kitchen table eating spaghetti with the Dodd sisters and Nicole, Claire noticed a slight bruise on Vanessa’s wrist where her new male friend had grabbed her the other night.
