“Mr. C,” said an anguished Melvin Kessler, “we have a contract. You can’t be serious about abandoning the project.”
“Melvin, I have contracts with many people, you should have read the small print, but you were too busy bedding my wife. All contracts are invalid immediately. Now, get out of here before I have you arrested for trespassing.”
“Reggie, darling, you can’t believe I’d love a cop, I was acting back there with Samantha. I don’t have feelings for anyone but you. Come home with me and I’ll show you how much I care for you and only you.”
“Get out Rachel; Ivor, pick her up and carry her, just get her out of here.”
Rachel ran out the front door shouting for Ivor not to dare touch her, she had her car and she would drive herself home. She got in her car and drove it around to the back of the mansion and out of sight of Ivor. She needed time to think, she’d put five years into this marriage and she knew Reggie would leave her without a cent if she couldn’t convince him to trust her again. When will the old goat die? Maybe she could help his demise along.
Barry wanted to scream, the money he’d been promised would have been enough to pay all Benjy’s medical expenses and avert the foreclosure on his family’s home. He should have known this project was too good to be true. Maybe Mr. C would understand and give him part of the money he’d contracted for. He had put many hours into the project, the guy couldn’t be completely unreasonable, or could he?
Melvin was in agony, not only was his heart broken when he realized it was over between Rochelle and him, he was even further in debt than he was yesterday. Now he had to worry about the money he owed for his gambling debt and the late alimony and child support payments. He wanted to wring Mr. C’s scrawny little neck. He was so close to having everything he wanted. He was sure he could persuade Rachel to marry him after the old codger bit it. Now he was throwing her out of his life because he thought she was in love with some cop from her past. He was married to Samantha Degan and Melvin doubted he’d be willing to leave his beautiful wife for a trashy woman like Rochelle. He saw Rochelle’s car circle the mansion and wondered what she was up to. If she had a plan in mind, he would tell her a husband couldn’t testify against his wife. Ah yes, this might work out fine. He could end up with the girl and the money. He didn’t have much time to figure out how to hasten the death of an old man.
“I’ve been a fool, Samantha,” said Grant Wagner. “I could have ruined everything with Jennifer. I know you warned me about Rochelle, but I didn’t listen. I’ve known no one like her before and I couldn’t seem to help myself. I should have known she was only using me to write a script to embarrass you. I’m so sorry I hurt you.”
“Grant, you have nothing to be sorry for. You were hired to do a job, and that’s what you did. I’m sorry for you because you have what it takes to be a meaningful writer and this nonsense wasn’t worthy of you. The first script, although it didn’t resemble my book, was well written.”
“Thanks, Samantha, you are good for my ego. This opportunity was my last chance to be a successful writer and now it’s over, I’m ready to go back to Iowa.”
“You mustn’t give up on your dreams, Grant. Keep writing and working with your dad in his shop. I have no doubt you will make a name for yourself someday.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, I need to get my laptop back in the house. I hope we will see each other again before we both leave for home. It’s been a pleasure meeting you both.”
“Samantha, do you think Grant has a talent for writing?” asked Megan. “He’s a good guy, I hope Jennifer appreciates him.”
“Me too; here comes Barry, he looks devastated, I thought he would be happy the project is a bust. I know he didn’t like the script even before Rachel revamped the entire story.”
“I’ll be only a few minutes; I want to make sure I left nothing behind in the mansion. It looks like almost everyone has left already.”
“Take your time, Barry. Megan and I will take a walk by the ocean while we wait for you, it looks like a storm is brewing.”
Samantha and Megan took off their shoes and walked in the soft sand. The ocean waves were splashing fiercely against the shore. The rumbling of thunder was heard in the distance.
“Are you sorry the movie won’t be made of the professor’s life, Sam?”
“Not at all, it has taught me a lesson, and that is to take my time signing a contract. I didn’t think it through because I was flattered that someone wanted to make a movie of my work. What’s that proverb? Pride goeth before the fall. I’ll remember that in the future. Not that anyone will want to make a movie of my books after this fiasco.”
A loud clap of thunder muffled the sound of Grant’s scream as he jumped into the pool and dragged Mr. C to safety. Grant’s high school training as a lifeguard came back to him in an instant. He tried valiantly to breathe air into the man’s lungs but knew it was too late. Reggie Crenshaw was dead.
Chapter Seven
“What are you doing to my husband?” Rachel shouted when she saw Grant hovering over Reggie. “You killed him, you killed Reggie!”
Despite the thunder, Samantha and Megan couldn’t miss the shrill screams of Rochelle Rousseau. They ran to the pool deck and saw Mr. C lying on his back with his eyes opened wide. Megan muffled a scream herself. Samantha shivered when she saw the look of panic on Grant’s face.
“He was in the pool,” gasped Grant, “I pulled him out and tried to revive him, but it was too late. I’m so sorry, Rochelle, I couldn’t help him.”
“Why did you kill him, Grant, why did you kill my sweet husband?” I’ll show them what a magnificent actress I am, I’ll show them all, she thought and added some heart-wrenching sobs to make her sorrow more authentic.
Samantha reached for her cell phone and dialed 9-1-1 to report what she hoped was an accident.
Barry walked out the patio door, Samantha noticed a look of horror but not surprise on his face. She knew Barry was troubled about something that didn’t concern his son’s illness. She liked Barry and could tell he cared deeply for his wife and children.
Melvin followed Barry his face turning ashen. He and Rochelle exchanged glances. If something nefarious took place out here, Samantha thought, I wouldn’t have been surprised if those two had something to do with it.
Samantha noticed a slight pinkish cast to a spot in the water showing Mr. C had bled before he fell or was pushed into the pool. Samantha remembered the water was too cold for swimming when they were here yesterday. The cold water might have stopped the flow of blood.
“What’s going on out here?” Brad Taylor asked as he strolled around the side of the house. He stood close to Samantha causing her to back away. “Did someone knock off the big guy?” he said with a smirk on his face.
“Mr. Crenshaw is dead, Brad. Where have you been, I thought you left over a half hour ago?”
“I had business to take care of, I thought the guy was a jerk for ending this gig, but I didn’t kill him if that’s what you are thinking?”
“I said nothing about murder, did I? For all we know, this was an unfortunate accident.”
“Whatever! I’m leaving now, I’ll give you a lift to your hotel, we can have a drink to toast Mr. C’s demise.”
“I think we’d both better stay, Brad, the authorities are on their way, I’m sure they will have questions for us.”
“I have nothing to tell them, I’m taking off. Call when you change your mind,” he patted her on the butt. She almost turned around and slugged him but Barry came to her rescue.
“Leave the lady alone, Brad. You aren’t going anywhere; you will wait for the police along with the rest of us but do your waiting away from Samantha.”
“Thanks, Barry, I was about to slug him before you saved me. I’ll never watch another of Brad Taylor’s movies, he was always a good guy on screen. He must be a great actor.”
“Only mediocre, but better than whats-her-name over there. She is laying it on thick. Directing her would have be
en a challenge. I’m sorry this project turned into such a disaster and I’m sorry for my part in it. I think your book would make a splendid movie. I know a few people who might be interested. Young Grant has talent too, I know without the restrictions placed on him, he would have done a good job with the screenplay.”
“I don’t know, Barry, I’m not sure this whole thing was a good idea. Maybe it’s too soon to think about starting over again. I want to go home and pick up my life where I left it two days ago. I can’t believe all that has happened in those two days.”
They could hear sirens in the distance, Megan would be happy when the paramedics took the dead body away. She was feeling queasy although she tried to get as far away from Mr. C as she could. She looked at the faces of everyone standing helplessly around the body. She knew Grant’s dreams were shattered when the movie was cut short. She hoped he didn’t confront Mr. Crenshaw and cause his accident. She was thrilled when Samantha invited her along on the trip. They’d planned to stay two weeks, one week checking on the movie and the second week Mike and Fletch would join them for a vacation. She was sorry Mike wasn’t here with her now. She felt a chill and wished they could go back to the hotel. The sky was dark, the wind was howling and she could hear the waves crashing to the surf. Samantha came to sit by her side.
“Megan, I’ve called Fletch. He and Mike are on their way to the airport, they will standby for the earliest flight out here.”
“Samantha, you are a mind reader, I was sitting here wishing Mike was with me.”
“I know how you feel; I felt the same way about Fletch. Maybe now you will know Mike is the right one for you and make it official. You know how we old married folks are; we want everyone to enjoy the wonderful state of matrimony.”
The paramedics walked around the corner of the house followed by two uniformed police officers. While the paramedics examined the body, one police officer asked: “What happened here today?”
“Arrest Grant Wagner he killed my husband,” screeched Rachel pointing at Grant.
“I didn’t kill the man, officer. I walked out the door and saw him face down in the pool. I pulled him out of the water and tried to resuscitate him but it was too late,” replied a distraught Grant.
“Officer, my name is Samantha Degan, I noticed a trace of pink in the water before you arrived. It’s not visible now because the filter dissolved it, but if you notice, there a small smear of blood on the patio door. Is it possible the victim was struck with an object and staggered into the pool?”
“Who might you be, ma’am?” the officer asked.
“I told you, I’m Samantha Degan, I told you what I observed.”
“The Lady’s right, Pete,” said the other officer, “There is blood smeared on the door.”
The medical examiner arrived. Detective Bellamy called him Dr. King. “What have you got for me Doc? Did the guy have a bump on his head?”
“Sure does, Pete, looks like somebody conked him on the head with a heavy object. I’ll take him in to perform an autopsy, but I suspect it wasn’t the blow that killed him, sounds like water in his lungs. I’d guess he was knocked daffy and stumbled into the pool. I’ll get my full report to you as soon as possible.”
“Okay ladies and gentlemen, I want you to all take a seat. Officer Hendricks will stay here on the patio to make sure you don’t talk to each other. I’ll question you one at a time. Mr. Wagner, is it? You’re first, come with me.”
Detective Peter Bellamy entered the study followed by Grant. He closed the door behind them.
Mr. Wagner, why don’t you tell me what all you people are doing here in Seabrook Shores. I know an English guy named Lambert owns this place; it’s vacant most of the time.
“We were here to prepare for the filming of a movie based on the life of a college professor. Mr. C, the dead guy, got mad at his wife and stopped the whole thing. I came in here to get my computer when I saw Mr. C floating face down in the water. I don’t know how long he’d been there, but obviously; it was too late.”
“What part did you play in making the movie? Are you an actor?”
“No, sir, I’m a screenwriter; I ruined Samantha Degan’s excellent biography of an exemplary man and turning it into the trash.”
“If you felt so strongly, why did you agree to write it?”
“It was my last chance to make it as a writer. It’s time to give up my dream. It’s all right, though, I hated what I’d done to the story.”
“Did Mr. Crenshaw force you to write something you hated?”
“No, it was Rochelle Rousseau, Mr. Crenshaw’s wife. She’s a looker, she led me on and I fell for it, what a jerk.”
“Are you the reason Mr. Crenshaw ended production? Was he jealous of your relationship with his wife?”
“No,” laughed Grant, “I don’t think he noticed. He was mad because Rochelle or Rachel had a relationship with Samantha Degan’s husband before she married Mr. C. This was her only acting job and her only interest in the movie was to see Detective Fletcher again.”
“Samantha Degan? She’s the one who was playing detective out there. What did she have to do with the movie?”
“She wrote the book, apparently, Rachel saw the book and thought it would bring the detective out here so she could start up where they left off.”
The inside door to the office opened. Ivor looked quizzically at the Pete Bellamy. “What’s going on here? Where’s Mr. Reggie?”
Pete was startled at the presence of the huge man. “Who are you?” he asked.
Ivor’s face reddened, is Mr. Reggie all right? I didn’t want to leave him, but he told me to go watch television while he made some calls.”
Pete didn’t know whether to feel sorry for this oaf of a man or fear him. “Why don’t you sit down and tell me your name, fella?”
“I’m Ivor, I’m Mr. Reggie’s friend and I help to keep the bad guys away,” Ivor said proudly. “I’ll find Mr. Reggie now.”
“Ivor,” Pete Bellamy said, “I’m sorry, Mr. Reggie is dead, he drowned in the pool. The paramedics are taking him to the hospital so the doctor can see what made him die, do you understand, Ivor?”
“No!” Ivor shouted. He bolted out the patio door, calling Reggie’s name.
Barry Kline walked over to Ivor and put his hand on his arm gently urging him to sit down while the paramedics lifted the body bag holding Reggie Crenshaw on the gurney to take him to the morgue for the autopsy.
It took Barry, Pete, and Officer Hendricks to hold Ivor back. He was sobbing when he looked directly into Barry’s eyes. “Murderer!” Ivor shouted.
“Hendricks, have the medics check this guy, will you?” said Detective Bellamy, “I can’t question him while he’s in this state.”
Rachel walked through a door. “Ivor, how did you let this happen? I told Reggie to fire you, you’re useless.” Rachel turned to the detective, “He’s got a sleeping thing going on. He falls asleep like that,” she said snapping her fingers.
“Are you talking about narcolepsy?” asked Samantha when she heard Rachel’s shrill voice. Narcolepsy is a serious neurological disease if that’s what Ivor suffers from; he doesn’t deserve to be chastised.”
“Shut up Samantha, no one asked for your opinion.”
“She has a point, Mrs. Crenshaw, suppose you tell me what you’ve observed about this sleeping pattern.”
“The guy’s an oaf; Reggie felt sorry for him years ago and hired him as a bodyguard. He would never hurt anyone; Reggie always said he merely had to look at a person and they’d back off. Reggie had a sixth sense about Ivor and his sleeping problem. He knew when the dope was would drop off. He’d tell him to go watch television and Ivor did it. A few minutes later, he’d be snoring away. I think he’s just lazy.”
“Ivor,” asked Detective Bellamy, “did Mr. Crenshaw tell you to watch television this evening?”
“Yes” replied Ivor. “I watched Lucy, she’s so funny. I don’t know what she was doing but everyone was laughing.”<
br />
“Were you sleeping, Ivor?”
“Yes, sir, Mr. Reggie says I should sleep when I get sleepy.”
Ivor began to cry again at the mention of Reggie’s name. The paramedic came to walk him to the sofa in the living room where he took his vitals.
“I wonder what will happen to the poor man?” said Samantha, not expecting an answer to her question.
“I don’t care where he stays but it won’t be with me,” said Rachel. “He’s creepy and I won’t have him in my house.”
Megan rolled her eyes, what did Fletch see in this self-centered woman? She thought. Her cell phone sounded and Megan was happy to hear Mike’s voice. He told her he and Fletch were at the airport. Fletch is renting a car and they would be at the hotel soon.
“No, Mike, something terrible has happened, a man has died at the mansion at Seabrook Shores. The police are here questioning everyone. I don’t know how long it will be before we can leave. Do you think you and Fletch can find your way here? I will ask Grant Wagner to give you directions.”
“No, we can find it, what’s the address? Fletch and I both felt uneasy about this movie deal. We’ll be there as soon as we can.”
Megan gave him the address and told Samantha the guys were on their way. Both women were relieved
Chapter Eight
Although the freeway was packed with cars, Fletch found his way to the turnoff for Seabrook Shores. Driving a patrol car on the streets of Chicago all those years paid off.
Driving up the road to the mansion, Fletch was amazed that the house looked identical to Stonehill Manor.
A police officer stopped the car and asked for identification. The officer called Detective Bellamy to ask permission for Detective Fletcher and Mike Thompson to be allowed on the premises.
“Detective Fletcher is here,” he turned to Samantha, “I assume he’s the sleuth’s husband.”
Samantha nodded her head yes. It was Rachel who yelled: “Fletch is here, finally, Fletch is here, I must see him.” She ran out the front door and down the driveway before anyone could stop her.
Murder in Seabrook Shores Page 4
