The lab tech knew Allison and liked her. He had other pending orders but put them aside while he ran a blood analysis.
“How are you doing, Allison?” asked Samantha.
“Not so great when I think of telling Bella her grandfather killed her father. I will not lie to her again. If it turns out that's what happened, I'm going to tell her the truth.”
“I don't know the condition of C J's body, however, those pants and shovel were covered in blood. It indicates a vicious assault. If C J was beaten and thrown over the cliff, the authorities would have noticed blood on the cliff and would have investigated it as a murder, not an accident.”
“I hope you're right Fletch, the man was a horrible human being, yet I hope he wasn't a killer. I feel bad keeping you from your family. I'm sure they want to be with you every chance they get.”
“Don't worry about our folks, they are enjoying themselves. By the sound of the commotion I heard in the background, I'd bet Samantha's dad is serving martinis.”
“I can't imagine your mother being tipsy,” said Allison. “She was always so nice to your friends growing up. I loved my mom, but she never had any fun. Your mom used to sit down on the floor and play games with us. She is a neat lady.”
“Your mother will calm down now that her secret is out, Allison. You know from experience what a burden it is to carry around secrets.”
“I also know how good it feels to have everything out in the open. Mr. Krause's friendship is good for her.”
“It's good for him too,” said Samantha. “Mom tells me he is lonely without Mrs. Krause. Maybe you'll have a new stepfather soon.”
“Not a good visual, I can't imagine my mother hopping in bed with a man.”
“I could see the twinkle in Mr. Krause's eyes,” laughed Fletch. “The old guy still has what it takes.”
“What do you think, Allison, does Detective Fletcher have that twinkle in his eyes?”
“He does every time he looks at you, Samantha, you’d better marry the guy soon.”
The lab tech came out with his report.
“I'll have this typed up and get it to you. I know you are anxious for my report. I found two blood types on the shovel. One is a dog and the other, I'm guessing, could be from a coyote. I might be wrong about the coyote; I know they are prevalent in the area near the cliffs. I can tell you with certainty that there is no trace of human blood on the shovel, the overalls, or the boots. I hope that helps, Allison.”
Allison threw her arms around the older man. “Pete, you have made me very happy. Thank you for doing this for me.”
“Did you have a dog, Allison,” asked Fletch.
“No, we didn't but there was an old stray that followed Father around. He called him Butch. He was a mean dog who growled when he saw me. I used to call him Daddy's little boy because they were so much alike. Of course, I never said it to Father, I wouldn't risk his wrath.”
“One day he was there, wandering around the backyard watching every step Father took and the next day he was gone. I didn't care and soon I'd forgotten all about him.”
“Sounds like Butch tangled with a coyote and lost,” said Fletch. Maybe we should go to the cliffs and see if we can find a grave of some kind. It may reassure your mother that her husband wasn't a murderer.”
“Would you mind? It's very pretty up there during the summer.”
They stopped at the only discount store in the area and bought oversized hunting socks to slip over their shoes and lower legs to catch the burdock.
“Why didn't we think of this when we came up here years ago. We can throw the socks away and not have any of those pesky little things clinging to us,” said Samantha.
It only took a few minutes of traipsing through the brush until they came upon a crude wooden cross with the name Butch etched into it. Nearby they found the bones of an animal with its skull shattered.
“Rest in Peace you nasty old dog, you were a mean thing, although my father loved you. I'm sure he grieved the loss of his only friend.” Allison felt sympathy for the man for the first time in her life.
“It's beautiful; I can understand why your friend, C J, liked to come here.”
“They've talked about clearing the field and building a park, but the town won't consider it without adding a fence along the cliff. I can see their point for safety reasons, but it would be a lovely place for a picnic,” said Allison.
“What are you thinking, Fletch, you have a funny look on your face.”
“I was wondering why C J fell. You say he came here often to walk along the cliff. He must have known it well, so what happened that day? Did he have a dizzy spell? Did he have a sudden illness? Could it have been drugs or alcohol? Did someone meet him up here and help him over the side?”
“It's a mystery, but let's get back to Allison's and reassure her mother that it wasn't her husband who killed C J”
Frederick Krause and Martha were sitting on the front porch sipping blackberry wine. Allison was surprised to see her mother outside and she'd never seen her drink anything but tea and water.
“What did you find out, dear?” Mrs. Jennings asked anxiously.
“Mom, do you remember Butch, the dog who used to follow Father all around?”
“Yes, whatever happened to that dog? Is he still around?”
“No, he's dead and buried in the field by the cliffs. Apparently, he was attacked by a coyote and killed. We're guessing Father beat the coyote with his shovel. Those were the only two blood types on any of the items you found.”
“Are you saying your father wasn't a murderer after all?”
“That's right, Father didn't kill anyone except that coyote and the coyote deserved it.”
Mrs. Jennings looked like ten years had been magically removed from her body. She smiled and turned to Mr. Krause.
“I'd love to go to dinner with you, Frederick. May we order another glass of wine when we get there?” she giggled like a school girl.
“That was nice,” said Fletch. “I like Allison; she's had a rough life but seems to have made the best of it. Her father sounds like a real winner.”
“Yes, he was, I'm relieved he didn't kill C J. Things are starting to work out for Allison. It would be nice if she could find a nice guy to share her life with.”
“The matchmaker is at work. Tell me, what did you have to do with Patsy and Ryan getting together? Did you arrange a meeting?”
“No, I didn't know Ryan before Patsy and I met him at school, they hit it off on their own. I like them both, don't you?”
“Yes, I like them too. What about your two best friends?”
“Jody and Erin are constantly at each other's throats. They both were carrying on with C J at the same time. Not only that, they each think the other murdered him. I didn't think they were this bad in high school. They aren't pleasant to be around. Kate simply acts strangely. I think she's happily married, but who knows? I'm glad I went away to school if I'd stayed here I might be just like them.”
“Who didn't C J hook up with? I always wondered what it would be like to be a chick magnet.”
“You could be a chick magnet; you don't give anyone the opportunity. I'm not complaining, I like having you all to myself.”
“I like having you all to myself too, let's ditch the parents and go directly to the hotel. We'll order room service and have our dinner and dessert in bed.”
“It sounds wonderful, but we have to show our faces, if only for a little while.”
“If your folks are anything like mine, they will want to feed us and ply us with drinks and keep us prisoners for hours, I want to be alone with you.”
“One drink and then we leave, I promise.”
Samantha noted her mother and Sandy were drinking iced tea. Eating a full meal helped calm the effects of the alcohol.
“The children are here,” cried Colleen. “You must be famished, I'll fix plates for you, we have plenty.”
“That sounds great, Colleen,” said Fletch, “
I grabbed a hot dog on the road earlier and I'm starving now.”
Archie Degan handed Fletch a cold beer that went down a little faster than Fletch intended.
“What have you two been up to today? Have you been hiding in your motel room all this time?” Jack Fletcher asked with a sly grin.
“Jack!” cried his wife. “Leave the kids alone.”
“No, Dad, that's where I wanted to be but super sleuth, Ms. Degan is on her way to solving another murder.”
“Samantha, please be careful, I don't know why you involve yourself in these matters,” Colleen said. “I know you have been suspicious of C J Sinclair's accident since you arrived in town. Poor Patsy might have been killed because of her investigation. I wish you'd leave it alone.”
“Mom, we did find out today that Mr. Jennings didn't kill C J," Samantha told everyone what they'd discovered earlier, and the burden of secrecy Mrs. Jennings had lived with for the last few years.
“I'm glad for Allison and Bella that he didn't do this horrible thing. Mrs. Jennings's mind must have snapped when she suspected her husband was a murderer. Let's change the subject before the Sinclairs arrive. Did I tell you we invited them over after they dropped Bella at home?
“That reminds me, Samantha, Erin Shaw called earlier and asked if she could bring a guest to the wedding. I told her it would be fine, I hope that's all right.”
“That will be great, maybe with someone to keep her company; she'll forget her feud with Jody for a while.”
“May we add one more name to the list? Sharon Sinclair's son is coming to town, I asked her to bring him along.”
“This was supposed to be a casual wedding with just a few people. What is Sharon's son doing in Ashville? He has never lived here.”
“Sharon's son is an attorney. He's afraid Allison is after George's money and he's coming to check out her story. She hasn't told George the reason for his visit although I suspect George has figured it out.”
“We'd better get going, Fletch, it will be a busy day tomorrow. I, for one, need my beauty sleep.”
“You two run along and enjoy your last night together until you are officially married.”
“What do you mean, our last night? We have tomorrow night too,” said Fletch.
“No, you don't son.” said his mother. “It's tradition for brides and grooms to be apart the night before the wedding. Samantha will be sleeping here tomorrow night and you won't be able to see her before the ceremony.”
“It's a stupid tradition if you ask me,” Fletch grumbled.
They were in the motel room in less than five minutes. Samantha freshened up in the bathroom after a tiring day and when she walked through the doorway to the bedroom, Fletch was sprawled on the bed sound asleep. She slipped under the covers beside him, kissed his forehead and fell asleep immediately.
Chapter Sixteen
“Fletch, wake up, it's almost nine o'clock. We're due at my parents' in thirty minutes.”
Startled, Fletch said, “What happened to the night?” Did he really fall asleep? The thought of making love to Samantha all night long kept him going during the three-hour drive to Ashville. There wasn't time this morning and tonight she wouldn't be sleeping with him. This day wasn't starting out well.
“Why don't we stay here and order breakfast in bed?”
“Our parents' have planned a special breakfast for us. Breakfast in bed sounds wonderful but we're in Ashville. There is no room service anyplace in town. I could probably find some stale donuts and a weak cup of coffee in the lobby if you would prefer that to Mom's blueberry pancakes, bacon omelets, perfectly fried hash browns, piping hot coffee and homemade raspberry Danish.”
“Your mother's cooking wins. Let's shower together, it will save time.”
“You think so, huh? Maybe we'd better not start something we don't have time to finish.”
Colleen and Sandy were awake before dawn preparing for breakfast. The Degan's dining room table wasn't large enough to accommodate the number of people invited to brunch. Luckily, it was a sunny, warm day. Archie and Jack set up borrowed tables and chairs in the backyard.
Samantha and Fletch's siblings and their families would be at the party. George and Sharon Sinclair were coming along with her son, Matthew Benson and Allison and Bella.
Samantha was surprised they made it on time, her hair was still wet from the shower however she pulled it into a ponytail and the warmth of the day was already drying it. Samantha hugged her brothers, sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews. She'd met Fletch's sister before but not his younger brother. Samantha sat next to Allison to help her feel more comfortable with so many strangers.
Allison whispered to her. “Matthew keeps staring at me, he thinks I'm trying to con George.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Sharon told me he's an assistant district attorney in North Carolina. I get the feeling he doesn't trust Yankees.”
“He's cute, isn't he?”
“Unfortunately, he knows it. I don't like him.”
“If he's here to check you out, he'll realize you and Bella aren't trying to swindle anyone. I'll ask Fletch to reassure him.”
“No, don't, I don't need anyone to vouch for me, if he wants to distrust me, that's fine. I just don't want him interfering with the relationship Bella and George are beginning to form. I'm tempted to stick my tongue out at him, isn't that mature of me?” Allison laughed.
Mimosas and Bloody Marys were served along with apple juice for the younger set. The atmosphere was relaxed with everyone talking and laughing. Most guests were strangers when they arrived but made friends quickly. Bella and Dennis Degan's daughter, Kelli, strolled by the pond behind the Degan house. They were talking about boys and clothes when Matthew Benson approached.
“Hello, Bella, I'm Matt Benson. My mother is your step-grandmother, Mrs. Sinclair. That makes me your uncle.”
“That's so cool. I never had an uncle before.”
“What do you know about your dad?” Matt asked.
“My mom says his name is C J Sinclair. His real name is Chandler James; nobody knows that except Grandpa and me. There's a statue of my dad in the high school. He was the best football player in Ashville. He died when he fell off the cliffs. Mom says I shouldn't go there because it's dangerous.”
“Does your mom tell you a lot of stories, Bella?”
“She used to read me stories from library books, but now I read them myself.”
“Bella,” cried Allison when she spotted Matthew Benson talking to her daughter, “the other kids are looking for you and Kelli, I told them I'd send you back to the house.”
“Okay, Mom, did you know this is my Uncle Matthew?”
“I suppose he is,” Allison shuddered at the thought. When they were alone, she looked Matthew in the eye. “I don't want you upsetting my daughter. She is just a child. If you have something to say, you will say it to me.”
“I would never say anything to hurt a child. I only wanted to hear what Bella had to say about this cockamamie story that she is George's granddaughter. I'm sure you know, George is a wealthy man. I'm only concerned that a ten-year-old granddaughter suddenly appeared in his life.”
“I don't see where it's any of your business. I have kept Bella's parentage a secret for reasons that seem unimportant now. George Sinclair and Bella have formed a special bond in a very short time. I have not asked George for money and I don't intend to. I don't care if you believe me or not, I'm not a con artist.”
“What in the world is going on here?” George's voice boomed as he approached the couple. Sharon looked nervously at her son, she knew he could be a hot-head and didn't want him disrupting the party.
“George, just what do you know about this girl? Doesn't it strike you as odd that she suddenly presents you with a half-grown grandchild?”
“Matthew, you aren't interrogating a witness on the stand, I have known Allison since she was younger than Bella is now. Although I hate to admit this, my son was not
a nice young man. He took advantage of Allison and when she discovered she was pregnant at fifteen-years-old, he refused to help her. Allison's life has not been easy, I offered to help her out financially and she refused. If you compare Bella with photos of C J, you would know Allison is telling the truth.
“I know you are Sharon's son and I have great affection for you but I'm telling you now to mind your own business.”
“I'm sorry sir, I was only trying to protect you.”
“Do I look like I need protection? I'm not as feeble as you seem to think.”
“You're not feeble at all, I was out of line. I hope you'll forgive me and I hope Ms. Jennings will accept my apology.”
“There's no need to apologize, Mr. Benson,” Allison said. “I only ask that you leave me and my daughter alone while you're in Ashville.”
Allison didn't trust this man and liked him even less than she did when he was scowling at her earlier.
“What is wrong with you, son?” asked Sharon. Whatever happened to the boy who always showed compassion for people? This job has made you bitter. Now, let's go join the others with smiles on our faces.
Matt Benson didn't like being chastised by his mother, suddenly he felt eight-years-old again.
Fletch sat next to his mother. “We haven't had much time to talk since I got here,” he said.
Sandy patted him on the arm. “I miss you, Joey, we don't get to see you nearly as often as we'd like. I'm happy Samantha is in your life. She's a wonderful girl and she loves you, a mother knows these things.”
As they talked, little Timmy Degan ran in front of them and tripped on his shoelace. His chin quivered as Fletch picked him up and tied his shoe.
“Timmy, this is my mother, Sandy.”
“Hello, Timmy.”
“Hello, Miss Sandy. My Aunt Samantha is going to marry Uncle Fletch and they are going to have a bunch of babies.”
“A bunch, huh?” said Fletch. How many is a bunch?”
“Lots of 'em.”
“Do you go to school, Timmy?” asked Sandy.
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