Murder in Ashville

by Jane T O'Brien

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Samantha woke to the delightful aroma of coffee brewing. The sun was shining through her bedroom window. Despite her thoughts about murder and death the night before, she was excited. Today was the day she would marry her best friend. She didn't want to miss a minute of it and jumped out of bed. After showering, she joined her mother in the kitchen.

  “Mom, are you crying?”

  “Yes, but they are happy tears. I'd forgotten how much I miss you, Samantha. I know you are happy living in Lancashire, but I like to reminisce about the old days when you and I would sit right here at the table and talk about anything and everything. Today is your wedding day and I couldn't be happier for you, but I do miss my little girl.”

  “Oh, Mom, I miss those days too. It's been wonderful being home this week although I have been preoccupied with C J's possible murder.”

  “Do you really think he was murdered? If it's true, I'm glad Frances never knew the truth. She believed it was an accident, it would have been so difficult for her if he was purposely killed. Who do you think is responsible?”

  “I have a theory but no proof. I'll talk to Fletch about my suspicions this morning. He might have some ideas.”

  “Samantha Degan, it's your wedding day, why not concentrate on your happiness and put talk about murder aside.”

  “All right, Mom. I'll think only wedding thoughts,” she lied.

  “Megan and Mike will be arriving shortly. I'm glad you asked her to be your maid of honor. Mike seems like a nice young man. I hope he's good enough for her after her last boyfriend, Jimmy Lee Butler. I cringe when I think of how he terrorized you.”

  “Mike's the greatest, I wouldn't be surprised if they tied the knot soon.”

  Fletch knew he wasn't allowed to see the bride before the ceremony but his mother didn't tell him he couldn't call her.

  “Hello, beautiful, are you doing anything special today?”

  “Only marrying a gorgeous hunk, the love of my life, whose name has slipped my mind but I'm sure I'll remember it when it's time to say I do,” Samantha answered.

  “Did you sleep well last night?”

  “Not very well, it was lonely without you. I've been thinking about Amber Beardsley. Other than Kate Turner and Patsy, she is the only one who had access to the letters Kate wrote to Dear Patsy. I thought you might like to help me question her discreetly.”

  “Wasn't she just a kid when C J died?”

  “She was then but she's not anymore. I don't know Coach Beardsley well, however, I don't think he is the type who would ignore Ryan Turner's accusations against one of his players, especially his star quarterback.”

  “Do you think he fought with C J on the cliffs?” Fletch asked. “What about the threats to Patsy? Rigging the brakes in her car could be attempted murder.”

  “That's what's throwing me, I don't think he would put anyone's life in jeopardy. If he and C J argued, his death wouldn't have been intentional but a horrible accident.”

  “Megan and Mike just walked in the hotel coffee shop, we're having breakfast with my folks. Megan said she'll see you in an hour, Mike will drop her off at your house. I can't wait to see you in the chapel.”

  The chapel was small, but the office was big enough for Samantha to change into her wedding dress. She hoped Fletch approved of her choice. Megan brought her bridesmaid's dress with her and planned to change at the chapel too.

  Less than an hour after Fletch's call, Megan arrived at Samantha's house. “I thought I was hungry but I'm too nervous to eat. How do you stay so calm, Samantha?”

  “I'm not nervous at all, I know Fletch is the right one for me. I don't think it's sunk in that he will be my husband today.”

  “Samantha's not nervous about getting married because she is solving a crime in her mind,” said Colleen, walking into the kitchen.

  “Colleen, you look beautiful,” Megan said. “If I didn't know better, I'd say you were the bride.”

  Colleen twirled around showing her knee-length dress and jacket in a teal that accentuated the green of her eyes. She was close to sixty-years-old but looked younger.

  “Sandy Fletcher and I shopped together for our mothers-in-law dresses. Sandy has excellent taste, don't you think?”

  “It doesn't hurt that you have the figure of a twenty-year-old,” Samantha said with pride

  Her father stood in the doorway. “You do look like a bride, Colleen. Shall we have a double wedding with our daughter?” Archie laughed.

  “And have everyone think we have lived in sin all these years?” Colleen smiled.

  “Oh, Mom, people don't live in sin anymore.” Samantha shook her head at her mother's use of an old-fashioned term.

  “Samantha, I can't wait until your children are grown and make fun of the things you say to them.”

  “Colleen, she'll never have those children if we don't hurry,” said Archie. “We don't want to keep Fletch waiting.”

  Colleen and Megan helped Samantha get ready to walk down the aisle. Archie opened the door to the chapel office and gasped. Samantha looked so beautiful it took his breath away. He bit his lip trying to control his emotions. He was a big man and it wouldn't do to have him blubbering in front of his friends.

  Colleen kissed her daughter on the cheek and left to be escorted down the aisle by her oldest son. Sandy was already seated and was blinking back tears of happiness.

  The music played as Megan walked toward the altar, she only had eyes for Mike who looked more handsome than ever standing beside the groom. Mike stared at Megan thinking how lucky he was to have her in his life.

  The wedding march played, and Samantha walked down the aisle on her father's arm.

  Fletch watched as she came toward him. It was as if the entire world disappeared and only Samantha was left in it. Her smile matched the one he felt in his heart.

  The ceremony was a blur until he heard the minister say, “You may kiss the bride” and introduced Detective and Mrs. Joseph Fletcher to their friends and family.

  The reception was in full swing when the bridal party arrived at the hotel. The photographer Colleen hired believed the more pictures taken, the more would be ordered and he took them until Archie told him they had plenty to choose from.

  The champagne was flowing, and the bar was knee-deep in partakers. Samantha thought her father wouldn't be happy until all the alcohol in the town was consumed. She was happy to see Nick Turner with a glass of ginger-ale in his hand. He smiled and thanked Samantha for helping to ease his guilt.

  Erin wasn't as wise and had a half-full glass of champagne in her hand while she clung to Bobby Rooney's arm. Bobby worked the room hoping to make himself memorable to eligible voters.

  Samantha noticed Amber sitting with her family and Patsy and Ryan. Her brother, Josh's eyes were fixed on his phone. Samantha knew a boy his age would rather be with his friends than sitting around a room filled with old people. Amber tried encouraging him to put his phone down and join the other teens on the dance floor, but he ignored her.

  “Samantha, you look beautiful,” said Patsy.

  “Thanks, Patsy. I wonder if you could help me with my dress in the lady's room. Megan and Mike are dancing, and I don't want to disturb them.”

  “Of course,” Patsy said excusing herself from the table. “This doesn't have anything to do with your dress, does it, Samantha.”

  “No, I wanted to discuss Amber with you.”

  Samantha asked if Patsy was sure Amber was the only person in her office to see the letters.

  “Amber is the only person who had access to my files. I could ask her if she told anyone about them. I'll ask her to join me on the patio. Come out when you see us there, the girl will be honest with me.”

  Samantha joined Fletch who was deep in conversation with his brother. He knew her plan and asked if she needed his help.

  “No, it might frighten Amber if she thinks she's being interrogated.”

  “I hope you get the answers you need
to solve the mystery. I want your full attention tonight, Mrs. Fletcher.”

  “Don't worry. Detective, nothing will distract me from my gorgeous husband.”

  Fletch felt a hand on his shoulder and heard a woman’s hushed voice asking him to join her outside in the front garden.

  He turned and saw Erin Shaw walking toward the door. He followed her noticing she walked steadily for someone who had been drinking non-stop for the last couple of hours.

  “Hello, Erin, what can I do for you?”

  “Fletch, you’re a cop and I might need protection. I have something to show you.”

  Fletch was ready to make a run for it as she started to unbutton her blouse.

  “It’s a bug!” Fletch cried. “Who are you recording, and why?”

  “I probably shouldn’t be telling a detective this, but I’ve been blackmailing C J Sinclair’s murderer.”

  Meanwhile, Samantha met Patsy and Amber on the patio.

  “Amber,” Patsy said. “Samantha and I have a few questions for you, do you mind answering them?”

  “Sure, what's up?”

  “Amber, do you remember seeing a handful of letters with bible verses about truth?”

  “Yes, those are the ones you were taking to the police when you were mugged, why do you ask?”

  “Did you tell anyone about the letters? Anyone at all?”

  “No, I don't remember telling anyone. Wait a minute, maybe I did mention it to Mom. Was it a secret? I'm sorry if I did something wrong.”

  “You didn't, Amber, I never said they were confidential. Do you think your mother told anyone else?” asked Patsy.

  “I don't think she even heard me. She and my brother were having another row when I told her. I heard him slam the kitchen door on his way to his friend's house. Mom says Josh is going through a phase, but he was born a jerk.”

  “Do you think Josh heard what you said? Do you think he'd tell your dad?” asked Samantha.

  “I don't know. I'm sure he wouldn't think it was important. He acts so strangely when he's around Dad. Like I said, he's a jerk.”

  Josh suddenly appeared on the patio. “Are you talking about me, Amber? I know you think I'm a jerk, but I don't care. I can't wait until you graduate and go off to college. You make me sick.”

  “Josh, please, there's no reason to speak to Amber that way. We were asking her questions about some letters Patsy received at the newspaper. Do you know anything about them?”

  Josh's face turned pale. He looked through the window to where his father was sitting.

  Coach Beardsley knew instinctively that his son needed him and joined him on the patio. “Is everything all right here, son?” he asked.

  Josh shouted. “I'm going to jail and it's all your fault, Amber. I didn't want to hurt you, Patsy, I just wanted to stop you.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “What have you done, Joshua, why would you go to jail?” his father cried.

  “I hit Patsy on the head and took her purse, I fixed her brakes but only to scare her, I didn't want her to get hurt. I threw the rock through her window and she still didn't stop.”

  “Didn't stop what?” Coach asked losing patience with his son.

  “She didn't stop sticking her nose into C J Sinclair's accident. I was trying to save you, Dad. I saw you do it that day. I saw you hit C J and that's when he fell off the cliff.”

  Coach's mouth flew open, “Don't say more, Joshua.” He looked and saw George Sinclair staring at him.

  George had stepped out of the ballroom to watch the children playing catch on the lawn.

  “What's the boy saying Al? Did you fight with my son? Are you responsible for his death?”

  “I don't know what he's talking about. We are going home now, I'm not saying another word until I talk to my attorney.”

  Sharon held George's arm begging him not to do anything he would be sorry for.

  “The man killed my son, Sharon, you don't expect me to forgive and forget.”

  “You don't know the whole story, now is not the time for retaliation. You are frightening Bella. Please calm down.”

  He looked over at Bella and smiled at her. He spotted Detective Fletcher and demanded Coach Beardsley be arrested.

  “I'm sorry George, I have no authority in Ashville. I'll call the police department, I'm sure they will want to question Josh and the coach. It's not easy but there is no way of rushing this investigation.”

  “Patsy watched as they drove away, she knew Amber was crying and she couldn't do anything to help her.”

  Most of the party guests were unaware of events taking place on the patio. Allison invited George, Sharon, and Matt to her house hoping a change of scene would help George overcome his shock.

  “Coach was like a second father to C J. I can't understand why he would turn on him like that.”

  Allison wondered if there was more to the story but didn't share her suspicions with anyone. She remembered the change in Nick following his friend's death and guessed he knew something he'd kept inside all these years.

  Patsy's phone vibrated. She answered and was surprised to hear Amber Beardsley's voice.

  “Patsy, I know the reception is still going on but are you and Coach Hartman able to break away? Josh wants to talk to you. He wants to talk to Detective Fletcher and Samantha before Dad sees a lawyer.”

  “Ryan and I will be there, Amber. I'll ask Samantha but there is no guarantee she and Fletch can come.”

  Samantha and Fletch excused themselves from the reception and joined Patsy and Ryan.

  Amber was waiting at the door when the visitors arrived. Coach sat on the sofa with Marian beside him. Josh was waiting at the kitchen table.

  “Josh,” Fletch said, “you do understand, Ashville is not in my authority, but I'm required to relay anything you tell us today.”

  “I understand, I want to tell what happened. Dad picked me up from school that day. It surprised me to see him because Mom was usually waiting for me. I asked him where Mom was, and he said she was busy. I knew something was on his mind because he always got quiet when he was worried, usually right before a game. I sat in the back seat and didn't say a word. He didn't drive to our house, he drove his jeep through the field until he was almost next to the cliffs. I wasn't allowed to go near them, so I was excited to be so close.

  “I saw C J Sinclair jogging along the path like he always did. Everybody in town knew C J. All my friends wanted to be like him when they grew up. Dad stopped the jeep and walked up the side to the path. I could hear shouting, mostly from Dad but I couldn't hear what they were saying. I saw Dad take a swing at C J and C J fell.

  “I could tell by the look on Dad's face that he was really mad. I didn't say anything, and he forgot I was in the jeep. He drove home, and I slipped out of the car and went to my room.

  “After dinner, Dad got a phone call telling him C J had fallen off the cliff. I'll never forget the look on Dad's face when he heard the news. I was the only one who knew Dad was at the cliffs and fought with C J. I wasn't ever going to tell the secret and then I heard Amber telling Mom about the letters sent to Dear Patsy. I knew exactly what they meant. I had to stop Patsy from taking them to the police. I didn't want to hurt her but I couldn't think of another way to get those letters. I watched her walk out of the newspaper office and toward the police station. That's when I popped her on the head and took her purse. I didn't steal anything, I gave the purse to an old man who was walking by the newspaper office. He called me ma'am, maybe because my hair is long. I took the letters home and burned them in our fireplace. I know I was wrong to rig her brakes but I just wanted to scare her, not hurt her.” Josh hung his head in shame.

  Al Beardsley walked into the kitchen and put his arm around his son, “I had no idea Josh was carrying this burden all these years. He's right, I forgot he was in the back seat when I confronted C J.

  “I'll admit, I was furious with my star athlete. For George Sinclair's sake, I don't want to damage the b
oy's reputation but you must understand the gravity of the situation.

  “One of his teammates discovered he accepted a bribe to throw the game that Friday night. I didn't want to lose the game but more than that, C J was throwing his future away. I knew if he accepted money one time, he'd do it again.

  “Everyone knew C J hiked the cliffs and I drove up there to try to knock some sense into him. Everything came easily to C J, he had good looks, brains, and tremendous athletic ability.

  “I asked him if what I'd heard was true, that he took a bribe to throw the game. At first, he denied it but I knew he was lying. I told him I would be forced to cut him from the team, that he would be a disgrace to his folks and the town. He shrugged his shoulders and said it's only a game.

  “I'm afraid my temper got the best of me. I have never hit a student in my life but I lost control and took a swing at him. I caught him off-guard and the blow knocked him off his feet.

  “I knew I had to get away from him to calm down. I told him to meet me in my office the next morning at seven o'clock sharp. He didn't answer me and I left without looking back.

  “I couldn't believe it when I heard he'd fallen and was dead. I swear he was fine when I left him. I know I should have come clean when it happened but I made the excuse that my family needed me. The truth is, I let my son believe I'm a murderer all these years, maybe it's the truth. I do know I'm a coward, but I'm ready to face the consequences of my actions now.”

  Samantha felt sick to her stomach. She told herself she would be satisfied when C J's killer was found but there was no sense of relief. Nick Turner and Coach suffered the agony of guilt through the years and their families were affected by their behavior.

  Samantha could smile and act as though nothing had happened. She knew lives would change. Coach would lose his job and maybe his freedom. The same with Josh, he would be punished. She didn't know how Patsy felt about the situation but hoped she wouldn't be too hard on the boy who thought he was protecting his father.