Davenport House 6: House Secrets

by Marie Silk

  “Is it true that the police are holding a suspect at the station?”

  “Yes, it is what they told Clara.”

  “Did they say who?” Fiona continued, wringing her hands.

  “The police did not say who,” she answered. “Why are you worried?”

  Fiona looked nervously between Ethan and Abigail. “I’m worried that my sister might have been suspected.”

  “Oh,” Abigail said quickly. “I don’t think the police have Bridget. I have reason to believe it is someone else.”

  Fiona put her hand over heart. “Oh, thank goodness. I’m sorry for bothering you.” She quickly left the room, and Ethan looked at Abigail quizzically.

  “What’s going on? Who have the police caught?”

  “You should close the door,” Abigail told him. “The others don’t know yet. I wanted to tell you when I found out, but I’m having a difficult time coming to terms with it, myself. I went to visit Serena yesterday to find out when she would come to help with the baby. It is a complicated story, but apparently she was involved in Lawrence’s death. She said she would turn herself in to the police today.”

  Ethan was stunned. “I can’t believe this. I mean, I don’t know her real well, but the way Valenti talked about her, she couldn’t have hurt anyone. Valenti must be taking this hard…his family means everything to him. And jail is no place for a woman.”

  “It’s a shock,” she agreed. “I only hope this has all been a misunderstanding somehow, and that Serena may return home as quickly as possible.” Ethan looked at her compassionately. Abigail managed a smile when he began to stroke her hair and look lovingly into her eyes. He leaned in to kiss her, but the moment was over quickly when Ethan sprang from the bed in alarm.

  “What was that?” he cried.

  Abigail’s eyes were wide as she sat up in the bed. “It sounded like a gunshot.” They both flinched as two more shots were fired, the sound echoing off the house. Then, silence.

  “It sounded close,” Ethan said. “It must’ve been Sam. I’ll go check it out.”

  But as Ethan was on his way to the stable, Sam was on his way out with his rifle. “Did you hear where it came from?” Sam was asking.

  “Sounded close to the house. I thought it was you.”

  “No, it wasn’t me. Should we check with Joe at the ranch?”

  “Probably should, just to make sure.”

  “Hello!” Sam called as they approached Joe Blake’s cottage.

  Joe walked out to greet them. “I suppose you heard the shots. I had to scare off some coyotes that were trying to get to the sheep. They’re gettin’ desperate now.”

  “I thought I spotted one near the estate yesterday,” Ethan remarked. “They must be coming out of the mountains. So long as it’s all clear, I’m heading back to the house.”

  “See you, Ethan,” Joe called after him.

  Ethan walked back to the house while Sam stayed behind at the ranch to talk to Joe. Before going inside, Ethan froze in his tracks when he observed that Phillip Valenti was approaching him on the front steps.

  “I’m sorry to bother you,” Phillip said quickly. “I only wanted to make sure everyone was alright.”

  “We’re alright. It was just the neighbor scaring off some coyotes.”

  Phillip nodded. “I see.” In the awkward silence that followed, Phillip thought he should turn around and return to the farmhouse.

  Ethan spoke up before he could leave. “The sound of gunfire nearly scared me out of my skin.”

  “Me too,” Phillip agreed quietly.

  “There’s something I’ve wanted to say to you, only I didn’t know how,” Ethan continued.

  Phillip looked away from him. “I’m listening.”

  “I’m sorry about your sister. Abigail told me.”

  Phillip nodded. “I’m sorry too.”

  “If you need help with the children or anything—” Ethan stammered, trying to get the words out. “—I hope you’ll come ask us.”

  “That’s generous of you,” Phillip said with a nod.

  “I used to think of you like a brother, you know. When I came home and found out that you were with Abigail, I started to think that you and everyone else were out to get me. I even thought it might have been you who sent the letter telling Abigail I was dead.”

  Phillip shook his head. “I swear, I didn’t have anything to do with that. I hope you believe me. I thought of you like a brother too, and I thought if I didn’t make it back—” His voice caught in his throat before he continued. “I hoped you would raise my children as yours.”

  “The truth is that a cruel trick was played on all of us. I found out who it was that sent that letter, and I realized how much hate I carried because of it. I couldn’t tell if it was you who I hated, or myself. But I suppose all this time it can’t have been easy for you either.”

  “No, it hasn’t been,” Phillip mumbled back.

  “The fact is that Lawrence Collins arranged for that letter to be sent with malicious intent. He messed things up for all of us. But I want to get on with my life now without thinking those evil thoughts anymore. What I’m trying to say is, I want the hate that I carried to die with him.”

  Phillip was stunned at the revelation of Lawrence’s involvement with the letter, but he nodded in agreement and shook Ethan’s hand when it was offered.

  “Don’t forget to come to us if you need something,” Ethan called over his shoulder before he disappeared into the house. Phillip started to head back to the farmhouse deep in thought. As the men parted ways, both felt as if a weight they carried had been lifted off their shoulders.

  Later that afternoon, Clara was walking down the grand staircase when she observed that Mary was just returning through the front door. When Clara approached her, it was clear that Mary had been crying. “Are you alright, dear?”

  Mary wiped the tears from her face. “I’m tired. I want to go to bed.”

  “Is there anything I may do to help?” Clara asked sincerely. “I want to be sure that you are getting enough rest, especially in your condition.”

  Mary stared blankly in front of her and answered in a low voice. “Then you’ll be glad to know that I am not going to attend births anymore.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Haven’t you heard? I am a failure. I was never meant to be a midwife, and now everyone in town knows it.” Mary hurried up the stairs to hide away in her room before Clara could say another word.

  At the police station in Yorktown, Serena was led to a jail cell after another round of questioning with the police. The guard gave Serena a pitiful glance as he slowly closed the door of the cell after her. The guard did not even bother to lock the cell before he left for his chair.

  The police chief remained at his desk, furrowing his brow as he looked over the papers in his hand. Detective Mitchell eyed him curiously. “What’s your take on that young lady?”

  “I think she tells the truth to a fault,” the chief muttered. “The only trouble is, the injury she described is not consistent with what we saw during the autopsy, and the location she described doesn’t match where the men told us the victim was found.”

  “Could she have misjudged the location?”

  “It’s possible, but…I don’t think she’s the killer at all…despite her confession. She’d have to be much bigger and bolder to inflict the kind of damage we saw. No, I think the killer is still at large, and it’s urgent that we keep on with our investigation tomorrow at Davenport House.”

  Chapter 10

  The next morning, Clara went to Mary’s bedroom to check on her. “Good morning, dear. Are you coming down for breakfast today?”

  Mary lay in bed and weakly shrugged her shoulders. “You go on ahead without me.”

  Clara pulled up a chair beside the bed and sat down. “I don’t want to leave you alone until you tell me what is bothering you. I’ve known you for years and seen you go through so much…never have I seen you this down.”
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  Mary’s chin trembled. “Did you read the paper yesterday?”

  Clara heaved a sigh. “I did see it, Mary.”

  “So did everyone else in town. The mothers that I have been attending just told me they no longer require my services. They are switching to the other midwife, whom my own husband recommended above me. William doesn’t believe in me anymore.”

  “Oh come now, Mary, you know that’s not true. William was only trying to relieve some of the burden so that you could rest, surely.”

  Mary looked at her sorrowfully. “The damage is done. I’m humiliated.”

  Clara gave her a handkerchief. “I’m sorry, Mary. I know it made you happy to attend the deliveries…but you did work yourself too hard. You must think of the baby.”

  “I am always thinking of the baby, Clara. In fact, I think about the baby so much that it makes me frightened. I’m afraid that, when the times comes, I won’t be strong enough to give birth. I’ve seen what those other women have gone through. What if I don’t live through it?”

  Clara took her hand gently. “You must be the strongest woman I know. More than that, you have so many people here who care for you and want to help. You are married to the best doctor the county has ever known. We all believe in you.”

  “I don’t know that I believe in myself right now,” Mary said painfully.

  Nora entered the room just then. “Mrs. Collins, Chief Reynolds was on the telephone.”

  Clara’s heart raced in her chest. “I’ll be right down,” she said, attempting to sound calmer than she felt.

  “Oh, I have already spoken to the chief and hung up the telephone.”

  “What do you mean you spoke to him? What did he say?” Clara demanded.

  “He said that he and the detective will arrive shortly to continue the questioning. I told him you were out of town…but Chief Reynolds said they will come anyway.”

  Clara gaped at her. “Why did you tell him that?”

  Nora shrank back. “I thought you wouldn’t wish to be questioned, Madam.”

  “You had no right to speak for me! What am I to do when the chief comes here and sees that I have not left town? Or do you expect me to hide in my own house like a criminal?”

  “I—I don’t know, Madam,” Nora stammered.

  “Go downstairs and we’ll discuss this later. And don’t attempt to speak on my behalf to anyone ever again.” Clara sighed in exasperation and Nora scurried away.

  Mary was bewildered. “What was all that about? And why on earth is Nora acting as housekeeper? I’ve been meaning to ask you what happened to Fiona.”

  Clara covered her face with her hands. “Oh, Mary, it’s all a mess! A mess of my own making, I’m afraid!”

  “How do you mean?”

  “I’m worried the police will think that I’m guilty of killing Lawrence. I didn’t go back to my room the night of the ball…Nora saw me come into the house early the next morning through the servants’ door. I asked her to be discreet about it, but she would not do so unless I let her be the housekeeper.”

  Mary was stunned. “But if you weren’t in the house, where did you go all night?”

  Clara stood up in a fluster and closed the bedroom door before she sat down again. “I was with Joe…at his cottage.”

  Mary’s eyes were wide. “You were?” she whispered.

  “Oh it was all very innocent, Mary. Only I didn’t want anyone to find out that I, a married woman, spent the night at another man’s house. After the ball that night, Joe put his coat over my shoulders and left the party before I could return it. I followed him to the cottage and we ended up talking in front of the fireplace for hours. I suppose we lost track of time, because the next thing we knew, the sun was coming up!”

  “Oh dear, Clara! And Nora has been blackmailing you with the secret all this while?”

  “It’s not only her fault, it’s my fault too. I was shocked about what happened to Lawrence…and afraid for my own reputation…I wasn’t thinking straight when I agreed to Nora’s terms. I feel terribly guilty for downgrading Fiona like I did. I have let everyone down.”

  “Now you must take the chance to make it right,” said Mary. “Don’t worry about what people will think of you. Just tell the police the truth.”

  Clara sighed. “I suppose I somehow feel better already, now that I have told you. I felt so guilty all this while! I even worried you might stop speaking to me.”

  Mary managed to laugh. “Not a chance of that. I will need your help when the baby comes, so you won’t get out of it that easily!” Clara laughed too. She and Mary then spoke for hours to pass the time while they waited for the police to arrive.

  At the police station in town, the guard was opening the door of the jail cell that was assigned to Serena. “You’re free to go, Miss Valenti.”

  Serena looked at the guard in astonishment. “Are you—are you certain that I am free to go?”

  “Ask the chief if you don’t believe me,” he said with a shrug. He led her to the chief’s desk where she was given the handbag she brought to the station the day she turned herself in.

  “I don’t understand,” she said quietly. “But I’m grateful if I am truly free to leave.”

  “We received new information today, and it checks out. The Pittsburgh police are on the lookout for the real suspects—two men who were business partners with Mr. Collins. They must have gotten to him after your incident with the shovel.”

  “Oh,” she said in relief. “I never thought I hit him that hard, but I knew I must pay the consequences if he was dead from it.”

  “We’ve talked to the prosecutor and they’ve decided not to press charges against you, Miss Valenti. But I should tell you not to leave town in case we have further questions.”

  “Yes, Sir,” she said quickly. “Of course. I’ll just be at my brother’s home.”

  “That reminds me—your family is here to see you.”

  “They are?”

  The chief nodded in the direction behind Serena and she turned around. Her breath caught in her throat and tears filled her eyes. She suddenly fell to her knees, reached out her arms, and whispered, “Angelina.”

  The little girl walked into her mother’s arms and held Serena tightly around the neck. “Mama.”

  Giovanni stood by as he witnessed the little girl being reunited with her mother. Serena held on to her and looked up gratefully at Giovanni. “Thank you. I was afraid I’d never see her again.”

  “There’s a car waiting out front to take you home,” he told her.

  “But how did you—?”

  “Perhaps he can explain it all to you later, Miss Valenti,” the chief interrupted. “For now, we’ve got a lot more questions for Mr. Salvatore before he can leave. He’s turned up some things about Lawrence Collins that we very much want to hear about.”

  Serena held her daughter’s hand and tried to lead her outside, but the little girl ran to Giovanni and hugged his knees, appearing in no hurry to let go.

  He gave Serena an apologetic look. “Sorry, I guess she got a little attached these last days.” He turned to the little girl. “Go with your mama, now. I’m going to stay and talk with these men.”

  Angelina did not seem happy about leaving at first, but soon she was contentedly snuggled into Serena’s lap as they began the long drive to the farmhouse.

  At Davenport House, Sam was working under the hood of one of the cars when Abigail approached him in the driveway. “The police are coming to ask more questions,” she told him.

  “Alright,” he mumbled without looking up.

  “Have you spoken to Fiona lately?”

  Sam looked up quickly. “About what?”

  “Well I offered her a housekeeper’s position at the manor house,” she answered.

  Sam continued tinkering under the hood and grumbled, “Sure, I heard all about it.”

  Abigail frowned. “I thought you’d be pleased. She’ll be well respected as housekeeper there. I’ll see to i
t.”

  “I only wanted you to talk to Miss Clara about getting Fiona’s position back here.”

  “But Sam, it isn’t my place to question Clara in her household decisions. It isn’t my house.”

  Sam grunted and stood up straight to close the hood of the car. “I never would have asked you for help if I thought you would just take her away from here.”

  Abigail gazed at him compassionately. “I see. I didn’t realize that—that was what you were asking for. You know, Sam, you can come live with us at the manor house, if you wish.”

  “Thanks, Abby, but I need to get my own house built. I’ve already bought some of the materials so I can get started. It will just be a small cabin for now, but it will be enough.”

  “Does she know how you feel?” Abigail asked carefully.

  Sam shrugged. “I guess there’s no point in saying anything now.” Abigail watched helplessly while Sam packed up his tools and returned to his apartment above the stable.

  Later that night at the Valentis’ farmhouse, Phillip heard a knock at the door and went to answer it. “ ‘Evening. Can I help you?” he said to the strange man.

  “I’m the new detective in town,” answered the man with a gruff voice. “I hoped I could talk to Miss Valenti.”

  Serena peered around Phillip to see who was at the door. “Hello Giovanni,” she greeted.

  “ ‘Evening, Miss Valenti. I came to explain more about what’s happened.”

  “Please, come in,” she said eagerly as she cleared a place at the kitchen table. “This is my brother, Phillip. Phillip, here is Giovanni Salvatore, the investigator I told you about.”

  Phillip shook his hand. “Pleased to meet you. My sister says you’ve been a real help. I didn’t realize you were a detective.”

  “I wasn’t until today,” he replied with an incredulous laugh. “After talking to the police for a few hours, I guess they decided they wanted me working with them, and they swore me in right then and there.”

  Serena beamed. “Congratulations, Detective. Thank you for bringing my daughter back. Now can you tell me where she has been all this while?”

  “That’s why I’ve come,” he said, taking the seat across from Serena at the table. “Now before you get worried, I just want you to know that the girl was being well cared for…only it was a tricky situation. I checked into Angelina’s father and found these business partners of his. Well, they were disgruntled business partners who Lawrence owed a lot of money to. They took your daughter, thinking that it gave them assurance of getting paid by him. But Lawrence ignored their demands.”