“I stayed because I wanted to talk to Grant Wagner. He’s a talented young man, and I believed he would write a screenplay worthy of Samantha Degan’s novel. I know people in the major studios and I might sell the concept to them. I can assure you, Detective, I went nowhere near the study or the pool area.”
After questioning Barry for the next twenty minutes, Pete was almost certain the man was innocent of any crime. He admitted that he was desperate to earn enough to cover his financial troubles and was disappointed when Reggie reneged on the project.
“Detective,” Barry continued, “I admit I was hopping mad about losing money. My family means the world to me and I didn’t want to face having to move from the only home the kids have known but there is no comparison between a house and a man’s life.”
Pete Bellamy had experienced many con artists in his time, many were masters at covering for themselves. He usually knew when he was being conned. He was convinced Barry Kline was a decent man who was telling the truth. If not, he was a gifted fraud.
Pete opened the door thanking Barry for his cooperation. He noted the reassuring smile his wife gave him and hoped his instincts were correct.
“Grant Wagner,” he called. Grant walked forward with a confidence he didn’t feel.
“You’ve met Samantha,” said Barry. “They didn’t call you in for questioning did they, Samantha?”
“No, I came here for moral support.”
Megan walked over to the small group, “After what Samantha has been through, I hope they won’t grill her,” she said and explained Samantha’s ordeal with Brad Taylor.
“Don’t judge the man too harshly,” pleaded Samantha, I don’t believe he intended to hurt me. His life has not been a happy one, and he deserves our pity.”
Rachel and Melvin Kessler were hovering in a corner of the waiting room. It was obvious they were having words but kept their voices low.
“Melvin, I don’t want to see you anymore, why can’t you get that through your thick skull. What we had was fun but it’s over now.”
“Rachel, you were crazy about me a few days ago, is it that cop? What kind of hold has he got on you? You should act like the grieving widow and instead, you’re mooning over Samantha’s husband.”
“I’m not a grieving widow, Melvin, I’m not a widow at all. My marriage to Reggie was a sham. We weren’t legally married, and he left me with nothing.”
“What do you mean you weren’t legally married, you lived with the old man for years. You’re entitled to some of his money.”
“He gave it all to his daughter long before he died. The man left nothing to me or anyone else. I hated him, Melvin, if Grant hadn’t already killed him, I’d have done it myself. Now, get out of my face. I don’t want to look at you anymore.”
Melvin was shocked, he’d planned to pay off his gambling debts with Reggie Crenshaw’s money. He should have bilked it out of Rachel months ago. What would he do now? Those guys don’t mess around.
“Mr. Wagner, where were you when you saw the body in the pool?”
Grant was nervous but kept his voice steady when he answered Detective Bellamy’s question. “Rachel Ross instructed me to re-write the screenplay of Samantha’s book. I didn’t want to do it, the first version I wrote deviated from the story but she wanted something totally different. My first instinct was to tell her to shove it but if I refused, it would be the end of any chance I had of making it out here. The first time I saw Rachel, she mesmerized me; she was a beautiful woman. After I got to know her, I saw her beauty was only skin deep. I changed the script as quickly as I could and used the study where a printer had been set up. I went back to get my computer and when I looked out the glass doors, I saw Mr. C floating face down in the pool. I didn’t know it was Mr. C, it was a body, I didn’t know whose. Because of Mr. C, my dreams were shattering before my eyes. I’m not sure I’d have tried to help him if I’d known it was him. I know that makes me sound like a jerk but I want to be honest with you, Detective.”
“You aren’t a jerk at all Mr. Wagner, you attempted to save a man’s life. You pulled him from the pool after you saw his face and recognized him. You are free to go, Grant. Don’t give up on the writing because this didn’t work out.”
“Thanks, detective, I won’t give up writing but I’m afraid I must give up California, I’m flat broke.”
Pete thought it ironic most everyone working on the movie needed money. Rachel Ross didn’t need money when the man she thought she’d married was alive and now that he was dead, she was out of luck and out of cash. He called her next.
“Okay, copper, ask away, I have nothing to hide,” said Rachel when she plopped down in the chair across from him with her short skirt pulled up to the top of her thigh.
Pete had been a detective for many years but was not immune to the charm of a beautiful woman. He cleared his throat when he asked his first question.
Carol Hughes tried to suppress a smile as she watched her boss fight his reaction to the scantily clad Ms. Rachel Ross.
Pete regained his composure. “Tell me about your relationship with Reggie Crenshaw.”
“Boy, you get right to the point, don’t you detective. That snake, Reggie made a fool out of me and I will never forgive him for that. Well, I wouldn’t forgive him if he was still alive. Now I will have the satisfaction of spitting on his grave.”
“Though you weren’t legally married, you assumed you would inherit his estate, isn’t that correct?”
“Yes, I did; that is an assumption anyone would make. Who’d have guessed he would give it all away to a kid I’d never heard of. I thought I was Reggie’s first and only wife. We never talked about having kids. I didn’t think he wanted them and I sure didn’t want them either. That wife of his must be a piece of work to let him live with another woman for five years and not show herself. I’ll bet he was paying her to keep her mouth shut.”
Pete felt the urge to correct the statement about Alexandra but forced himself to dismiss the comment. His mind wandered to Alexandra. She and Rachel Ross couldn’t have been any more different. Alexandra was warm and loving whereas Rachel was totally self-centered.
“Ms. Ross, you left the mansion premises but circled around and came back, why did you do that?”
“I left because Reggie threatened to sic Ivor on me. Ivor hates me and I hate him. The big lug can pick me up and carry me anywhere he wants to. I know, from experience, what kind of brute he is. In the past, I’d have slugged him and slapped him as hard as I could and it doesn’t faze him at all. He’s an animal. Anyway, I drove around the building and out of Ivor’s sight because I wanted to talk to Reggie. I knew I could convince him that the story of the beauty and the cop would be a smash hit if he’d only let us continue. I wasn’t looking forward to the love scenes with Brad Taylor but I would sacrifice for the sake of the play. I never got to tell him because Grant Wagner had his hands around Reggie’s neck and was strangling him.”
“Why were you reluctant to act with Brad Taylor?”
“He’s strange, don’t you think? I’ve heard stories he killed his sister so he could have their mother all to himself. If you ask me, that mother and son relationship was weird.”
“Have you ever seen Brad Taylor behave in an inappropriate or threatening way?”
“Brad behaving in a threatening way? No, he’s nothing like he appears on screen. He always played a macho guy but in real life, he is a pussycat. Do you think he killed Reggie?”
Pete didn’t answer the question and excused Rachel after another fifteen minutes of questioning. Rachel wasn’t about to give up on Fletch. She brought his name into the conversation repeatedly. He had sympathy for Fletch and Samantha, this broad was determined to get her claws into Fletch again.
“Mr. Kessler, how much have you had to drink this morning?”
“Is that part of your interrogation, Mr. Detective, sir? I don’t see why my drinking habits are your concern.”
“They are my concern i
f you are driving an automobile in your condition.”
“I don’t drive drunk and I’m insulted you think I would. Don’t you know drinking and driving is dangerous?”
“I know it’s dangerous, I want to make sure you know it too. Why don’t you tell me about your relationship with Reggie Crenshaw’s wife?”
“Is that your business? Rachel and I are not in a relationship; she only has eyes for that cop out there. Why did he come to town? Rachel was mine until he showed up.”
Pete detected sadness in Kessler’s eyes. Is it possible the guy was in love with Rachel? He sounded like a defeated man to Pete.
“Mr. Kessler, tell me about your back alimony and child support payments.”
“Okay, I am a little behind. Those hags took advantage of me, why can’t they go out and get jobs, I thought they’d get married again and I’d be off the hook. As far as the kids go, I never wanted them, I was tricked into fatherhood.”
“What about your gambling debts, were you tricked into betting on the wrong horses?”
“Yeah, my bookie steered me wrong. Next time I’ll follow my hunches.”
“Mr. Kessler, it’s none of my business but I would suggest you give up drinking and playing the ponies and concentrate on paying your obligation to your wives and children. The courts don’t look kindly on a man who does not support his offspring. Your gambling debts are another matter and I’m sure you know what will happen if you renege on those.”
After the interrogations were over and everyone left, Pete called Samantha and Fletch into his office.
“Thanks for waiting, I wanted to talk to you about Ivor. We haven’t been able to find him. The maid said a few items are missing from his bedroom in Reggie’s apartment. We have an APB out for him but I think we have all the information we will get. I believe him when he says he was sleeping when Reggie was injured. The poor guy doesn’t appear to have enough brain cells left to lie. He was a boxer and suffered from several concussions before he was forced to give it up and became a bodyguard for Reggie Crenshaw.
“Samantha, I know you are convinced of Brad Taylor’s innocence, but he is the only suspect. I believe the others are innocent of any crime.” Pete held up a photograph of the antique clock that had been in Brad’s possession. “I showed each one of them this photo and asked if they recognized it. The only one who had any reaction was Rachel. She looked at it and said it was old and ugly and she’d seen enough of old being married to Reggie. She doesn’t much like that guy,” he said smiling.
“No, she has set her sights on my husband,” said Samantha.
“You don’t have a thing to worry about,” said Pete. “We have Brad in a holding cell, he has asked to see you. If you’d rather not, I understand.”
“I’d like to see him; the poor guy could use a friend. Perhaps he’ll tell me something that will help clear him. It’s worth a try.”
Chapter Seventeen
“Samantha,” Brad said when he saw her walk through the door. He wanted to touch her hair but there was a glass wall between them. He had to pick up a telephone to talk to her.
“Hi Brad, are you feeling all right, are the guards being nice to you?”
“Yes, everyone is nice, they are waiting for the doctor to come and then I can go home. Will you come back to the secret room with me?”
“I can’t do that Brad; we don’t belong in that room. A nice man owns the house and we can’t go back.”
“That’s too bad. Guess what, Samantha, my sister is coming to see me. Mama was wrong, she isn’t in the gutter. She lives in Wisconsin and she is a grandmother. Isn’t that something?”
“I’m happy for you Brad, I know how much you love your sister.”
“Yes, I do, Mama says she’s a nasty girl who does bad things but I want to see her. Do you think Mama will be mad at me?”
“I don’t think your mama will be mad at all, Sally is her child too and mothers love their children.” Samantha knew that was not always the case but what harm would a little white lie do, Mrs. Lee was not in any position to dispute her words.
“I must go now, Samantha, they are bringing my lunch, I hope it’s a peanut butter sandwich, I like peanut butter sandwiches, don’t you Samantha?”
“Peanut butter sandwiches are my favorite too, Brad,” Samantha tried holding back the tears, her heart ached for the man who she was afraid would kill her a few hours ago.
“I’m afraid I got nothing from him, Detective Bellamy, he is excited about his sister coming to visit. Is it true or a figment of his imagination?”
“It’s true, the sheriff from the town she’s living in called me. Sally Rafferty is her married name and she is anxious to see her brother. She and her husband are flying in later tonight. The sheriff got an earful from the sister, life was not pleasant in the Lee household. Sally escaped from that environment before it did any permanent damage, unfortunately, her brother was not as lucky.”
“That’s sad, I would like to see Brad again, if possible. I have the feeling he knows something and it will come out, eventually. Maybe his sister will get him to open up. I should have asked him about the clock but I was afraid he wouldn’t want to talk about it.”
Pete picked up the telephone in his office after everyone left. Overnight he’d memorized Alexandra’s number and called her.
Alexandra saw it was the police station calling and was happy to hear Pete’s voice. “You are earlier than I thought, I hope that doesn’t mean you are stuck at the station tonight.”
“No, I’m done and I’ll be out the door as soon as I hang up. Are you hungry, I thought we could go to a restaurant close to your house if that’s all right with you?”
“I have a roast ready to put in the oven and I hoped you wouldn’t mind eating at home. It’s been a long time since I have cooked for a man, so you are taking your chances. I can whip up a couple martinis before we eat, that way if the meal is terrible, you won’t notice.”
“That sounds wonderful, it’s been a long time since I’ve had a home cooked meal and the martinis sound good too. I’m on my way.”
Thirty minutes later, Alexandra heard his car pull into the driveway. She tried not to run to the door, but she was eager to see him again.
He stood on the porch with a bouquet of wilting flowers in his hand. “Sorry about these, I bought them at a roadside stand, it’s getting dark out there and I didn’t see their condition.”
“They are beautiful,” she said and meant every word, “I’ll put them in water and they will perk up in no time.”
Pete followed her into the kitchen where she had put the roast in the oven. She filled a vase with water and reached for her cocktail shaker. “Do you like it straight up or on the rocks?” she asked.
“Had better make it on the rocks, I’m driving,” he said wondering if he would drive home tonight.
Alexandra smiled as though she could read his mind. “Any luck with the case? I shudder when I think what Brad Taylor could have done to Samantha in that soundproof room.”
“We aren’t any closer to discovering who caused Reggie’s injuries, I’m afraid Brad is the only remaining suspect although Samantha disagrees. I think she has good instincts and I am leaning toward that conclusion myself. The trouble is, I have nothing else to go on.”
“Someone must have seen or heard something, it’s a big place but there were several people there.”
“Samantha thinks Brad saw something he is ignoring or forgetting; she visited with him earlier and will try to talk to him again. I don’t know how long we can hold him; she isn’t pressing charges for kidnapping. I’m afraid the man needs psychiatric help but we can’t enforce it without his cooperation. How is Gina holding up?”
“Gina is better than fine; I know it sounds cold-hearted but Reggie has been out of our lives for a long time. He was nothing more than an acquaintance to Gina. I know that sounds strange because he turned over his estate to her. It makes me wonder if he didn’t have a premonition about his d
eath.”
“Maybe it wasn’t so much a premonition as a fear of what Rachel was capable of. I couldn’t help but compare the two of you today when I met with her. There is no comparison but you are a hard act to follow.”
“I’m not sure Reggie would agree with that, I’m not sure why he married me. Back then he had many women who would have been the fun-loving wife he wanted. It wasn’t until after Gina was born admitted I was infatuated with the man and never in love.”
Pete smiled hoping that statement didn’t apply to him. He had to tell himself to go slow. He wanted to tell her he loved her and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He couldn’t believe they’d only known each other for two days.
“Gina and young Mr. Lambert seemed to hit it off today.”
“Yes, they did, when I talked with Gina, she said they were having dinner together. He seems like a nice fellow; he is planning to tear down the bookcases in the study and opening that secret room up. Gina said he feels terrible about not examining the blueprints before this. If he’d known about the secret room, he’d have gotten rid of it and Samantha wouldn’t have been in danger. He told Gina some stories his grandmother told him, that woman had an imagination, it’s too bad she didn’t write them down. Maybe Samantha could use them in a sequel to Professor Stonehill’s memoirs.”
“Maybe Blake should take her stories seriously; he would never have thought to look in that room if grandma hadn’t mentioned it. I suppose a hidden camera is too much to ask.”
“I doubt they had the technology for hidden cameras in those days.”
“That’s too bad, I could forget about this case and concentrate on you, I think I’ll do that,” he said as he put his arm around her shoulders and drew her close kissing her welcoming lips.
Murder in Seabrook Shores Page 10
