by J A Whiting
Claire and Nicole exchanged disgusted glances.
“That’s who Maddy saw standing near the trees that night,” Claire said.
Detective Miles said, “After killing Mrs. Dodd, McAdams was to leave for Cape Cod. He had made plans to meet Vanessa there to spend the day on his boat.”
“Didn’t he think that Vanessa would cancel after she discovered her mother had died?” Claire asked.
“He made those plans to give himself an alibi.” The detective shifted in his seat. “McAdams had other plans, as well … after some time had passed, he was going to suggest to Vanessa that she meet him at his boat for a day cruise as a break from her troubles. Once at sea, he would push her over and leave her there to drown.”
Nicole let out a gasp.
Ian said, “McAdams was the one who broke into the Dodds’s house and ransacked the doctor’s office.”
“Why did he do it?” Claire questioned.
“He thought Dodd might have some incriminating evidence in his office about his handling of McAdams’s wife’s surgeries,” Detective Miles said.
“He was planning to attack Vanessa and Maddy the night you were both there with the dogs,” Ian told them. “He heard the dogs, realized there were more people in the house than he could handle so took off.”
Nicole’s fingers rubbed at her temple and her voice shook. “He was going to kill Vanessa and Maddy that night.”
Augustus spoke up. “Will Dr. Dodd have a full recovery?”
“He is expected to.” Detective Miles nodded. “He’s fully conscious and doing well. We’ve had several chats with the man.”
Augustus asked, “Why was Dr. Dodd’s behavior so strange during this time? Was the shock of his wife’s death too much for the man?”
Miles set down his glass of iced tea. “Dr. Dodd felt responsible for his wife’s death. He suffered heavy guilt believing that their fights over his infidelity turned Grace to suicide. He was sure she jumped from the window.”
Nicole said, “Vanessa and Maddy never believed Grace died from suicide. They were right.”
“Who discovered Dr. Dodd in his apartment after he was attacked by McAdams?” Tony asked.
“That is unknown,” Miles replied. “The woman didn’t give her name. Most likely someone living in the building. Maybe the door to the apartment was ajar and the woman went in to see if anything was wrong. Whoever it was, she saved the doctor’s life.”
Augustus turned his head and gave Claire a look.
Claire knew that Augustus had guessed that she was the one who found Dodd in the apartment. She shifted her gaze away and brought up something else. “And what about Dr. Dodd’s lover, Representative Lowe? Did McAdams kill her, too, as part of his revenge on the doctor?”
“He did not,” Miles said. “He claims to have had nothing to do with the woman’s death.”
Ian told the group, “Dr. Dodd has given his version of what happened that day in Victoria Lowe’s townhouse.” He looked at Miles and, with a hand gesture, the detective encouraged Ian to report the details.
“Dr. Dodd was distraught about his wife’s accident believing she took her own life. Despite being in love with Ms. Lowe, he went to her townhouse to break off their affair. He revealed part of their conversation to us, stating that when he told his lover he wanted to end things, she was in a state of disbelief thinking that the stress of Grace’s death and the distrust of Dodd’s daughters towards the man had pushed the doctor into a state of shock. She talked to him about it, but Dr. Dodd said he was so distraught that he had to end their relationship. Ms. Lowe became furious. Her own marriage was about to end. Her husband had recently discovered the affair and had filed for divorce. Dr. Dodd said Ms. Lowe was ranting at him as she headed for the basement to get her laundry. She told him to collect himself and think about what he was doing and when she came up from the basement that he better be more reasonable. As she was yelling at Dodd, she missed the top of step and fell down the staircase landing hard on the concrete floor.”
Claire realized that what she felt in her chest when she was in the alley behind Ms. Lowe’s townhouse was the woman’s heart being broken by Dr. Dodd.
Miles took up the story. “Dodd told us he ran to the woman, checked her pulse, and immediately knew she was dead. He panicked and ran from the home afraid if he called the police, they’d arrest him. He said no one would ever believe that Ms. Lowe’s death had been an accident.”
Ian added, “Not after Grace Dodd’s accident. Two women tied to Dr. Dodd died within days of each other. The doctor was right. It would have been very difficult for the police to believe the two events were accidents.”
Miles said, “The doctor’s mental decline accelerated after Ms. Lowe’s death. He also believed that McAdams was after him and he was terrified.”
“Why didn’t Dodd link McAdams to his wife’s fall from the window?” Claire’s voice held an angry tone.
“He was sure that Grace had jumped.” Miles shook his head. “The doctor’s reasoning had become seriously impaired.”
Nicole frowned. “By keeping silent about his fear that McAdams was after him, he put his wife and daughters at risk.”
“Vanessa said she met McAdams at a coffee shop,” Claire said. “He must have found out Dodd had daughters and then stalked her?”
“Basically, that was it,” Miles said. “He followed Vanessa around for weeks. One day, he approached her in a crowded coffee shop and asked if he could sit at her table. He chatted with her and asked her to have a drink later that night.”
“Vanessa always seemed hesitant about Matthew. She must have sensed his dishonesty.”
“How’s Maddy doing after being attacked by that devil?” Tony huffed.
Nicole smiled. “Amazingly well. She seems confidant and self-assured, almost like she feels gratified that she had a hand in taking down her mother’s killer.”
“She sure was brave,” Claire added. “That girl is a fighter.”
“And how about Vanessa?” Tony asked.
“She’s strong, too,” Nicole said. “She is struggling with falling for Matthew’s deception, but I reminded her that she knew something was off with the guy. She listened to her intuition.”
Miles said, “Dr. Dodd had everything … money, a nice family, prestige, professional respect. Then he turned his life and many other people’s lives to ruin. Quite a reversal of fortune.”
Claire looked up to see Robby hurry around the corner.
“Here you all are,” he said with a broad smile. “I texted Nicole and she told me she was at Tony’s.”
“You look awfully happy.” Nicole eyed the young man.
“Did you win the lottery or something?” Tony chuckled.
“Practically.” Robby pulled a chair up to the already crowded table. He was about to answer Tony when a sheepish look came over him. “Oh, sorry. Am I interrupting? I’m so excited I just barged right in.”
“It’s okay,” Nicole put her hand on Robby’s shoulder. “Do you have some good news?”
A wide grin spread over his face. “Guess what? You’ll never believe it.” Robby paused for a split second and then the words spilled in a torrent. “The financial aid office called. They found a benefactor for me.” His head spun from person to person. “The benefactor is paying off all of my loans and will be paying for my final year of schooling.”
A cheer went up from the people around the table and the Corgis danced around Robby’s chair.
Ian laughed. “I’m guessing you didn’t have any money to pay for your last year of college?”
“Until now.” Robby grinned from ear to ear.
“Well,” Ian said. “Here’s a different reversal of fortune. This one from bad to good.”
“Do you know the person’s name who’s gifting you all this money?” Tony asked.
“Anonymous,” Robby told them.
Again, Augustus gave Claire a sly look, but she pretended not to see his face.
“
How come every time we sit out here in the sun,” Tony asked with a happy smile, “someone gets a windfall?” Tony was referring to the day when a courier arrived to tell him that an anonymous donor had purchased for him the building that housed his market and his apartment.
“Maybe we should sit together out here more often,” Ian suggested. “Maybe it will be me next time who gets a load of money handed to him.”
Everyone laughed and stood for a minute to hug or shake hands with Robby.
“I guess someone didn’t want all that talent going to waste.” Claire rubbed Robby’s shoulder.
“I’m so happy I could stand up and sing,” Robby told the group.
“Do it,” Claire said.
“Nope.” Robby smirked and eyed Ian. “I don’t want to get arrested for disturbing the peace.”
Tony stood up to go inside the market. “This calls for a celebration. I’m going to go get a big cake and some paper plates.”
A woman in a long colorful dress walked towards the group and Claire smiled and raised her hand to wave. “You’d better bring one more plate,” she told Tony.
Tony looked up to see Tessa coming up beside him and the big man’s face brightened.
Tessa’s auburn hair glistened in the sunshine. “Are you having a party?”
“Join us.” Claire told the woman about Robby’s good news.
“Do you mind?” Tessa’s eyes sparkled when she looked at Tony.
“It would be a pleasure.” Tony beamed at her.
Claire wasn’t sure what her answer would be if someone asked who looked happier, Robby or Tony, but it didn’t matter because the joy coming off of them danced on the air and filled Claire’s heart to bursting. Cocking her head towards Tessa and Tony, she leaned towards Augustus with a wicked smile. “Later today?”
“Oh, my, yes.” Augustus winked. “Tony is in for some wicked teasing.”
As the sun pushed up over the horizon, Claire let out a yawn while helping Ian load the bikes on the bike rack attached to the back of his car.
Ian chuckled. “Will you be able to stay awake long enough to finish the race?”
“I think I could have used another week to train.”
“You’re ready,” Ian encouraged. “You’re going to do fine.”
“I’m nervous.” Claire wiped her sweaty hands on her shorts.
“Just pretend everyone around you is me. Then you’ll sprint past all of them like you do when you trick me and bolt away when we’re running down Beacon Street.”
Raising an eyebrow, Claire said, “Maybe that will be my strategy. Act weak, and then strike.”
“It works on me.” Ian pulled the strap to tighten the bikes into place as Claire reached up to adjust one of the bicycle wheels and their arms brushed against one another.
The touch of Ian’s skin on hers sent a jolt of electricity through Claire’s veins and she had to lean down to pretend to fiddle with something in her gym bag so Ian wouldn’t see her fluster.
“Shall we?” Ian gestured to the car.
Claire gave a nod and lifted her bag. “Nicole, Robby, Vanessa, and Maddy are going to meet us there.”
“We’ll have our own personal cheering section.” Ian tossed his bag into the back seat and got in on the driver’s side.
Claire settled next to him on the passenger seat.
“Thanks for letting me train with you.” Ian started the engine. “I really wouldn’t have been able to keep motivated without you.”
Claire smiled at the handsome detective. “You did the same for me.”
“We should keep training together. We can find another event to do.” Ian pulled the car away from the curb.
“That would be great. As long as it’s not a marathon.”
“I was thinking….” Ian seemed hesitant, but then he finished the sentence. “There’s this really nice restaurant not far from the triathlon course. I’ve read about it, but I’ve never been there.”
Claire’s heart jumped.
“I was wondering, if you don’t need to get back right away, maybe we could have dinner there together before heading home.”
Claire was so busy swooning, she could barely get the words out of her throat. “I’d love that.”
Ian looked over at the pretty blond sitting just a foot away from him. “So would I,” he told her. “So would I.”
Thank you for reading!
Books By J.A. Whiting
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BOOK SERIES BY J. A. WHITING
CLAIRE ROLLINS COZY MYSTERIES
LIN COFFIN COZY MYSTERIES
SWEET COVE COZY MYSTERIES
OLIVIA MILLER MYSTERIES (not cozy)
About the Author
J.A. Whiting lives with her family in New England. Whiting loves reading and writing mystery and suspense stories.
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