“Oh, honey, it would be my honor. I’m so glad that Amber’s death led to something positive for someone.”
“You know it’s funny. He told me that the things I tol’ him, you know, my sins, weren’t no worse than anyone else’s. I guess maybe I ain’t such a bad person after all. I really think this is a turnin’ point for me. Who knows? Jes’ might be able to earn enough money to go to cosmetology school. Always loved playin’ around with hair and make-up. There’s one up in Sunset Bay. Maybe if I earn enough money this summer, and if you’d let me work here in the fall, I might be able to do it. I really think this is just the beginnin’ of my life. I’m pretty excited.”
“I’m pretty excited for you too, Madison. We’ll make it work. Why don’t you apply to that school? If you need some money for tuition, I could probably make you a loan against your future pay. If you need a recommendation, you can use me. I could also say a few words to Wanda, who owns the beauty shop here in town. She told me the other day that Missy was planning to retire next year. It seems that the timing would be right. She said she’d be looking for someone. Maybe you could help her in the shop until you get your license.”
“Kelly, I can never thank you enough for being so understandin’ and helpin’ me. For the first time in my life, I feel really, really good.”
“Madison, maybe you should think about moving in with someone, renting a room or something. I really don’t like to think of you living with your father.”
“I think I need to tell him that I’m joinin’ the church. Maybe if he knows that I’ll be confessin’ my sins weekly, he might be afraid that I’ll say somethin’ about him.”
“Be careful. You might want to think about calling me or Mike if it happens again. Since you haven’t turned eighteen yet, maybe an arrest for child abuse would make him think twice about it. Any chance he’d agree to get some help for his drinking?”
“Don’t think so. He’s kind of private about a lot of things. He always apologizes to me afterwards and tells me he’s sorry. I don’t think he wants to do it. He can’t help himself. I think he just turns into another person when he drinks, a person who’s not very nice.”
“All the more reason for him to get some help. Let me see what I can do. Now that you’re starting a new life, sure would be great if you didn’t have to deal with that problem. Do you have any relatives who live in the area?”
“No. There’s no one. Just Dad and me.” Madison looked at her watch and said, “Oops, I better get outta here. My first real meetin’ with Father Brown is in fifteen minutes. I sure don’t want to be late for that. Again, Kelly, thanks for everything.”
“Not a problem. Tell Father Brown I’m really proud and honored to be your sponsor. Go.” She opened the door and gave Madison a friendly push. “It’s time to get on with your new life.”
She had just closed the door and was getting ready to leave for the day when there was a knock on the door. “Yes, who is it?” she asked.
“It’s Dottie, from the yacht club. I was driving by and saw Madison leave and figured you might still be here. I want to return the serving trays you brought by last night. The coffee cake and French toast casserole were great. There wasn’t a crumb left. Here they are.”
“Thanks, but I could have picked them up. What’s this blue ribbon doing on top of the trays? I don’t remember seeing it before.”
“Of course you don’t. I found it on the gangway this morning when I went down to our boat after the meeting. Our nephew’s been living on it the last few months and I like to check in on him and the boat whenever I can. I kind of remember the cheerleaders wearing blue ribbons like this at one at the football games. I didn’t want the ribbon to fall in the water, so I put it in the back seat of my car with your things. Here, I’ll take it.”
“No, why don’t I keep it? A lot of the cheerleaders’ parents come in here and I’ll see if it belongs to one of them.”
“Well, if you don’t mind. That’s fine with me and it would save me a trip to the school. Looks like it got torn or something. I seem to remember them being much longer.”
“Yes, it does look like something’s happened to it. Thanks again for bringing these by.”
“We were all talking this morning about your cheesecake. Any chance we could have that next month instead of something breakfasty? We all agreed it was crazy to have cheesecake at eight in the morning, but we decided we wouldn’t tell anyone else about it.”
“Not a problem. I’ll plan on it. See you soon.”
As soon as Dottie left, she took the blue ribbon from the top tray and examined it. She was certain it was the other half of the ribbon Amber had given to the “mystery man.”
She finished her iced tea and washed the glass, thinking about the events of the last hour. I never did feel that Madison was the one who killed Amber and after talking to her today, I’m more certain than ever. Sure, someone might feel guilty about what they’d done and turn to religion, but what sticks with me is that Father Brown told Madison her sins were no worse than anyone else’s. I don’t think she would lie about that, particularly now that I’m going to be her sponsor. She knows I could always ask Father Brown if he’d said that. He couldn’t tell me what sins she may have confessed to him, but I’m sure he’d tell me if he said that her sins were no worse than anyone else’s. I don’t think Madison is a pathological liar or psychotic. I think she’s a kid who’s had a lousy home life. I hope everything works out for her. I just don’t think she’s the killer.
And the blue ribbon? Sure could have come from Chris’ boat. I don’t think Doc did it, but maybe if I pay him another visit, I can find out a little more about him and see if he keeps a boat on the property.
“Come on, Rebel. Time to visit Doc again, but no filet mignon this time.”
CHAPTER 21
Kelly pulled into the driveway of Doc’s ranch, opened the minivan door, and walked around to get Rebel out of the back seat. Doc was standing at the front door. “Kelly, two visits in one week. I must be pretty special. Come on in. What can I do for you?” he said, reaching down and scratching Rebel’s ears.
“Doc, you know once you start that, he won’t let you stop,” she said laughing. “He might let you pause for a few minutes, but he’ll definitely be back for more.”
“Yeah, I know. I learned that early on at the coffee shop. He doesn’t wag his tail at me for treats. He comes for scratches.” He knelt down and looked Rebel in the eye. “I’m wise to you, boy.”
“Doc, mind if we sit down? I’d like to talk very honestly with you.”
“Of course not, Kelly. Shoot. What’s so important that it couldn’t wait until lunch tomorrow?”
“Doc, from what you told me about you and Amber a couple of days ago, you and I both know you could be a suspect in Amber’s murder, but I just don’t see you doing it. I know I might be in danger by coming here and talking to you if you murdered her, so I’m trusting my intuition by coming here today. I have a gut feeling you didn’t tell me everything the other day.”
“Kelly, I appreciate your trust in me. Let me reassure you I did not do it.” He took a deep breath. “Okay, I’m going to be perfectly honest with you, just as you requested. Yes, I had a motive for killing her, but I didn’t do it.”
“Why don’t you tell me what that motive might be? And if you didn’t kill her, maybe I can figure out who did after we talk. I’d really like to eliminate you from the list of suspects.”
“Believe me, that makes two of us.” Doc swallowed several times and began, “What I told you the other day was the truth, but there’s a little more to it. Amber came back to the ranch and paid me a visit for a second time a day later. She told me she’d thought about it a lot and she was pretty sure she wanted an abortion. She said she had to tell the father first and she was planning on doing that the next morning.”
“Was that the morning she was murdered?”
“Yes. What I left out the other day was that although I was acquit
ted in the murder of the young woman in Southern California, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed against me by the girl’s parents in civil court. I told you it was an election year and her father made sure that he got all the publicity he could from it. I was found liable in the lawsuit and the jury awarded the parents damages in the amount of three million dollars. I was afraid I would lose everything, all of my family antiques, the art, and everything else I’d inherited. I told you the truth about coming up here and starting a new life.”
Well, that’s interesting. Funny Mike’s research never came up with any information about the civil lawsuit, Kelly thought.
“So they’ve never found you? Do you know if they’re still looking for you?”
“The parents died in a plane crash a few months after the trial. They were flying in a private plane to a political event in Palm Springs that was being held by a wealthy donor of his. According to what I learned on the Internet, apparently there was an engine malfunction. The pilot and the parents were killed instantly when the plane crashed into Mt. San Jacinto outside of Palm Springs. Even though the accident was investigated by the NTSB, they never could determine the exact cause of the accident. Fortunately, if anyone had found me, people in your coffee shop could swear that I had been in the coffee shop every day that week. After the parents died, their son received the right to collect the judgment against me, but he couldn’t find me, and I think he’s given up. I’d vanished only to wind up right here in Cedar Bay.”
“What does that have to do with Amber?”
“I told you that I had told her about the criminal trial. Evidently she researched it on the Internet and discovered the information about the civil trial. I told her I wouldn’t perform the abortion under any circumstances. I mean, think about it. Where would I do it? I told her the same thing and she said she was sure I could do it right here at the ranch. She threatened to expose me. She told me if I didn’t perform the abortion once she’d decided to go through with it, she’d make sure that everything I owned would be seized by the court in order to pay the civil money judgment entered against me. She’d obviously done some research.
“You might be surprised if I told you these antiques and the artwork you see here in my home are probably worth a couple of million dollars. They mean everything to me and I don’t want to lose them. I was desperately afraid she would carry out her threat and expose me.”
“Good grief. That’s a classic case of blackmail and certainly would provide you with a motive for killing Amber.”
“I know that. I kicked myself after you were here the other day for having told you about my past. I knew I would be very high on the suspect list with a motive like that, but Kelly, you’ve got to believe me, I didn’t do it.”
“Doc, I never wanted to believe that you did do it. It never felt right to me. Let’s think this through. The ocean played a part in her death. She was drowned in the bay. Do you have a boat?”
“Kelly, this is embarrassing, but I can’t even swim. I’m scared to death of the ocean and I’d never consider owning a boat. I was a book nerd when I grew up. I went to college when I was sixteen and graduated in three years. Then I went to medical school and became one of the youngest medical doctors in California history. My whole life was about learning and my parents pushed me hard to become a doctor. No other career was an option for me from the time I started reading at a very early age. Physical exercise simply was not a part of my life. My parents never wanted me to participate in any sports because they were afraid I might be injured and wouldn’t be able to become a doctor. Even something like swimming was off limits to me. You’ll notice I’m probably the only person around here who doesn’t have a horse. That’s another thing I was never allowed to do – ride a horse.”
“Doc, have you ever even been on a boat?”
“No. I not only have never been on a boat, but I would be terrified to be on one. I like things I can control. I can’t control the ocean. It frightens me to even think about it.”
“Well, it seems to me that whoever did this had a pretty good knowledge of the ocean. I mean if her body was pulled into shore, someone had to put her out there in the bay. From what you’re telling me, that wouldn’t be you.”
“No, it certainly wouldn’t. Kelly, you’re not part of law enforcement. I know that you’re close to the county sheriff, but why are you trying so hard to solve this case?”
“I’m Amber’s godmother and her mother, Ginger, is my closest friend. I feel I have a responsibility to Amber and her mother to find out who did this.”
“I didn’t know that. Since you’re not officially part of any law enforcement agency, can you tell me who else you suspect? Maybe I can help. Having treated so many people over the years, I’m a pretty good gauge of human nature.”
“Okay. I’ve identified five suspects, all of whom have a motive for killing Amber. I’ve pretty much eliminated three of them and you would make the fourth.” She told him her suspicions about Jeff. She said he was one of the three she had pretty much eliminated, but that she could be wrong. Next she described her recent conversation with Madison and why she didn’t think she murdered Amber. Then she went on and told him that while Brandon might have had a motive, just as Madison and Jeff did, she didn’t think he’d done it.
“I agree with your analysis of those people. I don’t think any of three of them did it for the same reasons. If you eliminate me, that leaves one suspect. Want to tell me about him or her?”
“Doc, I hate to accuse anyone and I sure don’t want to start a rumor, but I know you’re very discrete. Here’s what I think.” She told him all the reasons she thought Chris was the murderer, concluding with the weights she’d seen on his boat. She also told him she thought Chris might suspect that she knew something and that Mike was concerned about her safety. “Actually, Doc, Mike insisted that he spend the nights at my home until this case is solved. He’s worried I could be in danger. I reminded him Rebel was a guard dog, but he still insisted.”
“I can see why, Kelly. It’s pretty obvious to anyone who’s seen Mike with you that he’s crazy about you. I’m not at all surprised he’s concerned. I would be too.” He sat for several minutes thinking about what she’d said. “Back to Amber. In a normal case, we could compare Chris’ DNA and the DNA of the unborn child, however, since Amber was cremated, that isn’t possible. I suppose if he’s nervous enough about being exposed, he’ll do something to trip himself up, but we can’t count on that.”
“There’s one other thing, Doc. I’ll be back in a minute.” She walked out to the old minivan. “Do you recognize this?” she asked when she returned, holding up the blue ribbon.
He took it from her hand and looked at it. “I think Amber used to wear one like this. What is it?”
“Pretty much a status symbol. The high school cheerleaders are given blue ribbons like this when they make the squad. They’re really proud of them and they wear them all year. This one’s too short. It looks like it was cut in half.”
He ran his finger over the edge. “Yes, this definitely seems to have been cut or torn.”
“Doc, there’s something else I need to tell you. I found Amber’s diary and read it. In it she referred to her pregnancy, a ‘mystery man,’ and her debate with herself over whether or not she should terminate the pregnancy. Here’s the thing. She said that her ‘mystery man’ wanted a memento from her and she’d given him half of her blue ribbon. I’m certain this is it. It was given to me by a woman who was returning some trays to me at the coffee shop. I’d baked some things for the yacht club and she’d found it on the gangway when she went to her boat to see her nephew.”
“Wow! With Chris living on his boat and using that gangway, if we could find his fingerprints on it, I would think it could be used as evidence.”
“I don’t know. Seems to me there would be so many fingerprints on it, it wouldn’t stand up in court. Who knows how many people have touched it? And now both of our fingerprints are on it.”
“Yeah, you’re right. It’s probably a good thing I never went into law enforcement. I didn’t think of that.”
“I wonder what Chris would say if I told him that Amber had confided in me and told me she was sure he was the father of her unborn child and she was debating what to do. I could tell him I suggested she should tell him and see what he said, that maybe he would want the baby and want to marry her.”
“I don’t think you should do that, Kelly. That seems awfully dangerous.”
“I’d take Rebel with me. You know how protective he is of me. This can’t go on much longer, Doc. And if he had nothing to do with it, I’m sure he’ll have a plausible explanation for everything.”
“Kelly, do me a favor. If you decide to do it, and I don’t think it’s a good idea, have Mike go with you. Might be a whole lot safer for you to have someone with you who has a gun. Remember, if it’s Chris, he’s already murdered once, so a second murder would probably seem much easier to him. Promise?”
“Okay,” she said as she mentally crossed her fingers. “Doc, one other thing. Seems like a shame to waste your medical knowledge. Do you know much about alcohol abuse?”
“Of course. Like any doctor, a number of my patients were alcoholics. I’m very familiar with addiction. Why?”
“You know Madison, the young woman who replaced Amber at the coffee shop? The one I just told you I’ve pretty much eliminated as a suspect? Well, her father drinks too much and has even hit her when he’s drunk. I was wondering if you could do something. I know you want to stay off the grid, but maybe it’s time you became active in our town. Maybe you could do some counselling at the church or work with the psychologist in town as a volunteer. For some reason, I think maybe you could help him.”
“Let me think about it. I kind of like my privacy, but I admit I am getting a little bored. Before you go, I need to give Rebel a treat.” As soon as he heard the word ‘treat,’ Rebel got up and followed Doc into the kitchen. Kelly didn’t even try to stop him. She was mentally planning how she was going to handle what might happen in the next hour.
Kelly's Koffee Shop (A Cedar Bay Cozy Mystey Book 1) Page 11
