Classic Revenge

by Mitzi Kelly

  "Why did you suspect Tom? What did he have against Susan Wiley?"

  Clarissa gave a bitter laugh. "He didn't have anything against Susan. But Sam, he hated. Tom blamed Sam for everything wrong in his life. That's why we got a divorce, you know. His hatred of Sam became a living, breathing thing. It consumed him. Well, I'd finally had enough. I told Tom to get over it, to be a man and get on with his life. He ... he hit me," she said, lowering her eyes.

  Trish fought to keep her expression neutral. They finally had it the confirmation they needed to show that Susan's murder had only been a by-product of an attack against Sam. How could anybody hate that much? And then she answered her own question: only someone who was mentally and dangerously unbalanced. "So that's when you left him?"

  Clarissa drew a deep, shaky breath and nodded. "Yes. Tom was angry and he put the blame of our divorce on Sam Wiley, also. Actually, I hadn't seen Tom in quite a while, but after I heard about Susan, I went over to his place to confront him. I knew if he was guilty I would have to go to the police with my information."

  Millie tried, and failed, to hide her disgust. "Why didn't you? An innocent man has been charged with Susan's murder, and all along you've known who really did it."

  A sudden chill ran up Trish's spine. It was almost as if the air stopped moving and a cold energy enveloped them as Clarissa's gaze flew up to meet Millie's. Her stare lacked any emotion or essence; it lacked ... humanity. But the moment passed as quickly as it had started, and Trish began to doubt her own perception. After all, Clarissa was dealing with her own guilt and her own fears, and having someone openly accuse her of cowardice couldn't help the situation.

  Trish placed an arm around Millie and felt the angry trembling in her shoulders. She felt the same, knowing what poor Sam had been through, but that fact wasn't going to help them right this minute. They still needed evidence from Clarissa, and alienating her would be a mistake.

  "Millie, nobody knows what they would do in this situation," she said soothingly. "What's important is that we're getting to the bottom of this, and it will soon be over."

  A moment passed. "I'm sorry, Clarissa. Of course, Trish is right. I had no right to jump on you. You were very brave even attempting to find out if Tom was guilty. Please go on with your story" Millie's voice was conciliatory, but Trish was aware that her trembling hadn't stopped, and anyone who knew Millie would know that the apology was as fake as Clarissa's long fingernails. It evidently calmed Clarissa, though.

  "That's okay." She smiled weakly. "I'm sure I'd react the same way. The thing is, when I went to Tom's, he didn't deny it. He was even bragging about it. He said something about how he could start moving forward now, and that we could get back together. But he said something else that scared me to death" Clarissa drew in a ragged breath. "Apparently someone else knew about it ... this Mary Chavez. He didn't say how she knew, only that she was blackmailing him. He showed me a letter. He had it in his bedroom in the night stand. He was yelling and waving the letter in the air like a madman. He said he had given her some expensive earrings to shut her up, but it wasn't enough" Clarissa shuddered and then looked at them. "He told me not to worry about it, though. He would take care of it."

  "Oh, my goodness" Edna gasped, "that's why he killed her"

  "I went to Mary's to try and warn her," Clarissa said, her voice breaking. "I know you were there," she said with a glance at Edna. "I didn't think you looked like the typical Avon lady, but nothing was registering at the time. I had to warn Mary!" Clarissa's eyes fell. "Unfortunately, she didn't believe me. She said I was just jealous, that she and Tom were going to get married as soon as she could get a divorce. If only that were true," Clarissa said through her tears, "then maybe Mary would be alive today"

  Trish let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. So much of this they had already suspected. However, it still didn't explain why Clarissa didn't go to the police.

  "Clarissa, why didn't you go to the police when Tom confessed to killing Susan?" Edna asked gently, reading Trish's mind.

  "I was afraid," she said fiercely, as though angry with herself. "My mother is still alive. She lives a few miles from here, and Tom knows I would do anything to protect her. That's why he threatened to hurt her if I said anything. He said this would all blow over, that we could have a normal, happy life again. God, he made me sick!" she said vehemently, balling her hands into fists. "But I believed his threats. And, then, when I heard that Mary Chavez had been killed, I knew for a fact that he was crazy, that he would do anything to justify his actions and protect himself. I couldn't take that chance with my mother's life. I'm in the process of getting her out of town for a couple of weeks. She has a sister in Dallas. Once I knew she was safe, I planned on going to the police." Clarissa sat back in the chair, visibly drained, but with a calm expression.

  Trish leaned forward. "Clarissa, you said Tom showed you a letter from Mary he kept in his night stand. Do you think he still has it?"

  Clarissa shrugged. "I can't be positive, but I'd bet that he does. He doesn't throw anything out"

  Trish almost admitted knowing the same thing, but held back at the last minute and prayed fervently that Millie wouldn't volunteer information about Tom's living habits, either.

  "Okay, here's what we're going to do. You have to tell everything you know to the police. They can protect your mother until Tom is in jail, and you won't have to worry about her. You stay here and keep your doors locked. We'll bring the police to you, or we'll take you to the station, but it probably won't be until tomorrow. There are a few loose ends we need to tie up to make sure Tom doesn't wriggle himself out of this."

  "Yes, we have to-" Millie began.

  "Come on, Millie," Trish interrupted, gripping her hand tightly and standing. "Clarissa, thank you very much for trusting us. This is all going to be over soon. Will you do as I asked and stay here until we get back to you?"

  Clarissa stood and clasped her hands in front of her. "Of course I will. I can call in sick today. But, please keep me informed, won't you? My phone number is in the book"

  "We will, dear," Edna said, squeezing her shoulder. "Don't you worry about a thing."

  "I can't tell you what a relief it will be not to have to worry anymore about what that man might do," Clarissa said tremulously.

  GGVh-oh, look who's here," Trish said as she pulled into her driveway.

  "It's Larry!" Edna exclaimed. "That's perfect timing."

  Millie turned to look at her. "This is horrible timing! Remember, we can't say anything until we put the stuff back in Tom's house"

  "Smile, ladies," Trish said as she forced a pleasant smile on her face. "He's getting out of his car." Plastic smiles covered their faces as they got out of the car.

  "Good morning," he called cheerfully.

  "Good morning, yourself," Trish said.

  "Where have you been?" Millie asked, dropping her smile. "Are you still trying to plant evidence on an innocent man?"

  "Hello, Larry. What are you doing here?" Edna asked, a worried expression crossing her face before she remembered to replace it with the required smile.

  Larry stopped and burst out laughing. "You three never fail to surprise me. If I was a gambling man, I'd bet you have definitely been up to something, and that you're not going to tell me what it is."

  Trish grinned. "Keep your dollars," she advised. "Come on in. We were just getting ready to make some coffee"

  Larry held the door open for them. "Where have you ladies been so early this morning?"

  "Look, Larry, you don't tell us your secrets, and we're not going to tell you ours," Millie said as she marched past him. "There's nothing wrong with a little bit of professional competition. Rest assured, though, that we've been working to clear Sam, which is probably more than you've been doing."

  Trish stumbled over her own foot as she entered the kitchen. How much bail would Millie require to get out of jail for insulting an officer? And, more importantly, would it be wise to even try to
get her out?

  But Larry surprised them. "Oh, I wouldn't say that," he said casually as he sat down.

  All three women stood still and stared at him. "What did you say?"

  "Oh, no," he said, shaking his head, "I have to stay quiet about it-professional competition, you know."

  Millie narrowed her eyes and gave him a fierce look as she sat down across from him. "That old ploy won't work with us, Larry. You're not going to get us to reveal anything. We don't play that squid prose quad game."

  "Wh-? Oh you mean `quid pro quo.' No, I wouldn't dream of it. I know that, as ... professionals, it would be against your code of ethics to reveal information. I just came by to see how you all were doing."

  "Well, we're good," Millie said with a nod. "We're fine. How are you?"

  Larry gratefully took a sip of coffee from the cup Trish placed in front of him. "Oh, I'm fine, just fine. Are you enjoying this beautiful weather we're having?"

  Millie took a sip of her own coffee. "I am, very much. Are you?"

  "Yes, I am. As a matter of fact-"

  "Oh, stop it, both of you," Trish laughed. "This is ridiculous !"

  Edna was looking back and forth at Millie and Larry as though they had lost their minds.

  Millie grinned impishly at Larry. "We've established that we're both stubborn. Now, are you honestly still looking into Sam's case-other than as a suspect, I mean."

  Larry reached over and squeezed her hand. "Honestly, Millie, I can't talk about it. But I can tell you that some interesting information has come up, and that we're looking into it."

  Millie jumped up from her chair and gave a whoop for joy. "I've known all along you were an ace detective!" She planted a kiss right on Larry's mouth. "If I were ten years younger, I'd marry you!"

  "That's more like forty," Trish mumbled under her breath, but she felt the smile grow on her face as she, too, realized they were nearing the end of this nightmare.

  They weren't that thrilled fifteen minutes later when Joe came over, though. His arrival coincided with Larry's departure, and it was obvious he wasn't going to put up with any nonsense. Sensing that Joe was at the end of his patience with them, they went through two pots of coffee explaining and apologizing, not necessarily in that order. Trying to tell him that they had not wanted to worry him was a flimsy excuse, even to their own ears. He knew immediately that it was more like they hadn't wanted him to stop their private investigation.

  To say Joe was furious would have been a huge understatement. Even Millie was cowed into silence as they all sat there, ashamed and regretful at how they had taken Joe's kind nature for granted. But, as he so rightfully pointed out, there would be time for further recriminations later. Right now they had to concentrate on replacing the evidence they had gotten from Tom's and, once and for all, notifying the police. But, Joe informed them in no uncertain terms, he would be the one to go back to Tom's.

  Dusk was just starting to settle when Joe dropped off Edna at Trish's. Millie was already there, pacing back and forth with nervous energy. The next couple of hours were going to be pure misery as they waited for news from Joe. Edna, as expected, was extremely worried, but she presented a calm front, sure in her belief that Joe could handle anything.

  "Millie, please sit down," Trish requested. "You're driving me crazy."

  "I can't help it," Millie snapped. "I don't see why we can't drive over to Tom's real quick and see what's going on."

  "No!" Trish and Edna shouted in unison.

  "Well, we need to play cards or something. We can't just sit here twiddling our thumbs, and you two aren't any good at waiting patiently. You're going to make me batty"

  "That's a good idea, Millie," Edna hastily agreed before Trish could strangle their friend. "Trish, do you have any cards?"

  Just then, thunder rumbled in the distance. "Where did that come from?" Trish asked.

  "Didn't you listen to the forecast today? Strong thunderstorms possibly, today and tomorrow." Millie got up from the table. "We'd better get some candles and make a fresh pot of coffee in case the power goes out."

  Trish looked at Edna and saw the fresh worry cross her face. "Honey, don't worry about Joe. I'm sure he'll be back before the storm hits, if it even does"

  Edna nodded and forced her lips into a tight smile as she stood. "Of course, you're right. Where do you keep your candles?"

  With a full pot of coffee, and candles and matches placed nearby, the women settled down to play cards. The thundering roar of the approaching storm was closer now, with intermittent flashes of lightning, but they tried not to pay too much attention to it. Millie was beating them both three games to one, and since she was such a gracious winner, they were determined to kick her butt. Unfortunately, it wouldn't be this hand, though.

  "Ha!" Millie gloated.

  "Oh, for heavens sake," Trish said, stretching in her seat, "I need a break" She got up to pour coffee for everyone while Edna shuffled the cards and Millie went to the bathroom. It was while she was in the process of lighting one of the candles that they heard the front door open.

  "Thank goodness," Edna exclaimed and jumped out of her chair, "Joe's here!" She hadn't made it two steps, though, before she stopped, staring in shock. "Clarissa?"

  Trish whirled around, the match still in her hand. For a moment, she was too startled to say anything. Clarissa entered the kitchen wearing jeans and an oversized dark sweatshirt with pockets. Her hair was pulled up under a dark blue scarf and she was smiling as though she had been invited to the party. But her eyes were frightening. They were cold and unnaturally bright, almost feverish.

  "Hi, ladies. Surprised to see me?"

  "What are you doing here, Clarissa?" Trish asked as she blew out the match. And how did you find out where I live? she wanted to add. Her mind was racing, knowing that something was terribly wrong.

  Clarissa giggled. "I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd stop and say hello to my new best friends."

  "What's wrong, dear? Has something happened to your mother?" Edna had taken a step toward her, but Clarissa jumped and jammed her hand into her pocket.

  "Stop right there! Don't come any closer."

  Edna stopped but held her arms out. "Clarissa, we can help you," she said gently. "Tell us what has happened"

  Trish hadn't moved. She watched the interaction between Edna and Clarissa, wondering if there was any way she could defuse the situation. Obviously, Clarissa had a gun in her pocket, and, obviously, she meant to use it. And, then, all too late, Trish realized her mistakes. Clarissa wasn't an innocent victim of Tom's delusional mind. Exactly what part she had played in this whole sordid business was unclear, but that she was as dangerous and unbalanced as her ex-husband was certain.

  Trish wanted to somehow warn Edna, who was oblivious to what was really going on. And Millie-sweet mercy, she was just down the hall! If she came blustering her way in here, as was her custom, this scene could es calate into a red zone before anyone could take a breath. Trish knew that she had to do something, but what?

  Edna was still trying to get through to Clarissa, believing that Tom had done something horrible to Clarissa or her mother and that the poor woman must be in shock. "This is going to end tonight," Edna said soothingly. "We're going to the police and Tom will be locked up forever. He won't be able to hurt you anymore"

  "You stupid woman!" Clarissa screamed, and poor Edna reacted as though she had been slapped.

  Cold fury enveloped Trish, but she had to stay calm. She was responsible for the safety of two of the most important people in her life, and nobody was going to hurt them if she still had a breath left in her body. Edna stood a few feet from Clarissa, directly in front of her. Trish was behind them and slightly to the left of the table. Without moving her head, she looked slowly around at her nearest environment for some sort of weapon.

  "That's right," Clarissa sneered, "you are all so stupid. I've known since the night at the restaurant where Mary worked what you were up to. How do you think I fou
nd out about the earrings? Yes," she chuckled at Edna's unbelieving stare, "you were all talking about Mary wearing Susan Wiley's earrings. That was a godsend, and I've been meaning to thank you."

  "You killed Mary Chavez," Edna whispered.

  "Duh!" Clarissa mimicked, holding her arms out. "So one of you has a brain, after all."

  "And did you also kill Susan?" Edna asked, her voice breaking.

  Clarissa dropped her arms and looked to the heavens. "I take that back. Of course I didn't kill Susan, you idiot! Tom killed Susan. I already told you that"

  "You told us a lot of things, Clarissa," Trish said suddenly. She wasn't sure how much more abuse Edna could take before falling apart. Please, Edna, she prayed silently, step back. Start moving away from Clarissa. "You told us things like how you were so afraid of Tom and what he might do to your mother. So, while you're insulting our intelligence for believing you, why don't you go ahead and fill us in on the rest of the story-the real story this time?"

  The look Clarissa shot her was pure evil. There was madness shining through her eyes, as though she'd just realized that someone else was there. "Oh, I will," she said, her smile an ugly sneer. "I'll enjoy rubbing your faces in the fact that you've been so wrong about everything. But first, where's the old bat?"

  For a moment, Trish almost giggled. Millie would be furious at being called an "old bat" Then, realizing her own fear was on the verge of taking over, she fought to gain control over her emotions. Their very lives were in extreme danger, and giving in to the fear was not going to save any of them. She had to stay calm. "If you mean Millie, she's not here. She left a short while ago to change clothes-something about wanting to look her best when the police get here."

  "She may be all dolled up," Clarissa cackled, "but it won't be for the police."

  "Why are you here in the first place?" Trish suddenly wanted to know. "Could it be that Tom is really innocent of everything you accused him of, and you knew we would find that out?"