I strolled down the stairs and said a quick prayer of thanks that no one was behind the counter. I quickly slipped the extra key on the hook and then made my way to Gary Wainwright’s office. His door was closed but I could hear muted sounds within. I knocked and he opened the door immediately.
“Ryli, good to see you. Come in.”
Cybil was sitting at her desk writing. She actually looked better than I’d seen her look all weekend. Guess having your husband believe you aren’t cheating helps with the nerves.
“Mr. Wainwright, Aunt Shirley and I have come across something, and we’re hoping you can help us out.”
“Of course. I’ll do what I can.”
“All the envelopes have the same address as to where to send the money. I’m wondering…”
“All?” Cybil exclaimed and threw down her pen. “There are others?”
I winced. I totally forgot the Wainwrights knew nothing of Olivia’s horrific ordeal. “Yes. I’m afraid there have been others here at the farm who have been blackmailed by Trent.”
Gary gasped. “Who?”
“Olivia Banner for one.”
“No!” Cybil cried. “Is that why her husband didn’t come with her?”
Gary’s brow furrowed. “But he is here. I just checked him in a little while ago. I admit Olivia seemed shocked at seeing him, but I thought that was just because he surprised her.”
“It seems Trent not only sent Olivia blackmail pictures of them together, but even after she paid him, he then sent them to her husband.”
Cybil Wainwright put her hands over her face and started to weep. My heart broke for her. I really liked these people, and they certainly didn’t deserve this kind of torment.
Gary Wainwright rushed over to where his wife was sitting. His red face and tic in his jaw left no doubt he was angry. “I wonder how many more people that have stayed at our place have been blackmailed by that little—”
A knock on the door interrupted Gary.
Chapter 11
“Aunt Cybil, Uncle Gary, what’s going on?” Dayna Bowers stood in the doorway, wringing her hands in worry. “Is it about Trent?”
Gary motioned for Dayna to come in. “Yes. It seems Trent has been carrying on with visitors here and then blackmailing them with pictures he would take. He would send the pictures to the women and then to their husbands.”
Dayna put her hands on her stomach and bent over. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
I walked over to where she was standing and gently eased her down on a nearby chair. “I’m so sorry about this, Dayna.”
“Who?” Dayna demanded. “Who else is being blackmailed?”
I hesitated. I definitely didn’t want to get into family disputes, but I figured they had a right to know. After all, it was their business that will probably suffer from this backlash.
I took a deep breath. “Olivia Banner.”
Dayna reeled back in her chair as though I’d slapped her. “Olivia? But her husband just arrived. I went up to see if she needed extra towels just a few minutes ago, and they didn’t look like…” Dayna’s face turned red. “I mean, they didn’t look to be having any problems.”
I smiled. “That’s a new development. It seems her husband, Brian, came here to beg her to forgive him and together they were going to set Trent straight.”
Gary Wainwright gave me a hard look. “You don’t think maybe Olivia’s husband had anything to do with Trent’s murder, do you?”
“I honestly don’t. He has a pretty solid alibi. It seems he was at Olivia’s mom’s house begging to know where Olivia was. He only found out where she was this morning when he drove straight here. Of course, that’s their story. Sheriff Simpson would have to go through more in-depth questioning to find out if it’s true or not.”
Gary sighed. “So we are no closer to solving this crime.” He sat down behind his desk. “You said others. Do you know of anyone else that Trent was scamming?”
I looked at Dayna. I wasn’t sure the girl should be hearing this. After all, she was supposedly seeing Trent.
“It’s okay,” Dayna assured me. “I’ve come to terms with the fact Trent was a scumbag.”
I hid my smile. “Well, I don’t know if he has sent anything before, but I know Tina—”
Dayna snorted. “I knew it! Trent kept saying I was being paranoid, but I knew he was fooling around with her!”
I bit my lip. “Yes. Like I said, I’m not sure about before, but I’m afraid Aunt Shirley and I came across some pretty incriminating evidence that we will turn over to Sheriff Simpson when we see him next. But when we questioned Stewart, he didn’t seem to believe what Aunt Shirley and I were telling him. And short of showing him the sordid video, he probably never will. Or he will believe us, but just not care.”
“That’s probably more like it,” Cybil said. “Tina usually comes here with a group of girls. This is the first time we’ve ever met Stewart. I see now why she doesn’t bring him places.”
“Do you think…” Dayna bit her lip and looked away. “Do you think Tina brought Stewart here to rub it in his face that she was messing around?”
I frowned. “Maybe. I guess anything’s possible. But I don’t know how that fits in with the murder.”
Cybil clapped her hands together. “Maybe this is all a show for Stewart and he really does care. Maybe Trent sent Stewart blackmail photos and Stewart came here to kill Trent.”
I slowly nodded my head. “Yes. But that’s a lot of maybes. And it’s a pretty elaborate show if you ask me. I honestly don’t think Stewart cares one way or the other.”
We all collectively sighed. It was like we were spinning in circles and had nowhere else to go.
“What did you want to ask me about the post office?” Gary said.
“Oh, yeah,” I said. “Do you know the post master over at Millsap? I know they can’t tell us who owns the box, or give out any personal information. But maybe they could describe the person for us without realizing it.”
Gary Wainwright shrugged. “Worth a shot. The post master’s name is Larry Tubbins. He’s a good guy. I’ll give him a call and see what he can tell me. Hopefully I’ll have something for you by dinner tonight.”
I thanked him and went back upstairs to let Aunt Shirley know what I’d found out. I closed the door and walked in on her standing in her bathrobe by the open window smoking her e-cig.
I rolled my eyes. “Will you never grow up? Put that stupid thing away.”
“Fine,” she grumbled as she threw it back in her open makeup bag. She reached down into her bathrobe pocket and pulled out a flask. She opened the lid, took a sip, and grinned at me. “Better?”
I rolled my eyes and refused to answer. “I’m going to take a bath. Mr. Wainwright said he knew the post master and he would give him a call. Hopefully he’ll have something for us at dinner tonight.”
I gathered up clean clothes and went to the bathroom to take a soothing bubble bath. I poured in my fragrance, turned on my music app, sank down into the tub, and closed my eyes.
Pounding on the door caused me to groan. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been in the tub, but the cool water let me know it had been awhile.
“What?” I yelled.
“You’re gonna be a prune. Get out of there. We have about thirty minutes before supper. Shake a leg.”
I knew Aunt Shirley was right, but I just couldn’t bring myself to get out and get ready. I drained some of the water then refilled it with fresh, piping hot water. I needed a few more minutes.
More pounding. “Are you forgetting we can have cocktails before dinner? I’m sure everyone is downstairs already getting their drink on while you’re in here lollygagging.”
I sighed and unplugged the water. It was going to take me ten minutes—tops—to get ready. Put on some lotion, slip on my maxi dress, brush out my hair and pull it back up in a knot, and maybe throw on some mascara.
“I’m coming,” I yelled through the door. “I’ll be out in
a few minutes and we can go.”
I heard grumbling, but the answer must have sufficed because I didn’t hear anything else out of her. I slipped on my dress and finished getting ready.
“About time,” Aunt Shirley whined when I came out of the bathroom. “I’m wasting away. I need food and drink. And not necessarily in that order.”
I bit back a laugh and stuck my cell phone in my dress pocket. “Let’s go then.”
By the time we made it to the parlor, the only people missing were Stewart and Tina. Wayne Skaggs already had Mom and Paige cornered, talking their ear off. He had on the same suit as this morning, but he did change out the colored handkerchief. It was now a deep purple.
Olivia and Brian were canoodling on the couch, Dayna was busy serving drinks, and Gary and Cybil were talking with Sheriff Simpson.
I turned to Aunt Shirley. “Did you bring the camcorder for Sheriff Simpson?”
Aunt Shirley tapped her oversize purse. “Got it in here. I’ll take care of that business—alone.” Aunt Shirley waggled her brows at me.
Yuck!
“Fine. I’m going over to rescue Mom and Paige from Wayne. You go talk with Sheriff Simpson.”
I sauntered over to the fireplace where Mom and Paige were standing. I could tell by the look on Mom’s face she was about out of patience with Wayne. Which explained the champagne. Mom wasn’t much of a drinker, but tonight she was having a glass of champagne.
“Ah, Ryli, don’t you look lovely,” Wayne said as I joined them. “I was just telling your mom how stunning she looked tonight. It’s easy to see where you get it from.”
I snorted. While Mom’s beauty was effortless, she never flaunted it. Tonight she had her hair pulled back in a French braid, a simple button-up top, and slacks. No makeup, no fuss. That was my mom.
“Yes. She is a gem. Her boyfriend, Doctor Powell, is always saying so.” I thought the added emphasis on the doctor would help Wayne see he didn’t stand a chance. Of course, now I went and made it awkward for everyone.
Dayna entered the parlor again. “Bessie said dinner will be ready in about five minutes. If you’d finish up your drinks, we can retire to the dining room.”
“Excuse me, ladies,” Wayne said. “I think I’ll get a quick refill before dinner.”
We all watched him walk away. I yelped when I felt a pinch on my arm.
“What?” I said. Even though I knew what Mom was gonna say. Paige was already giggling.
“Did you have to emphasize the doctor?” Mom asked.
I nodded my head. “Yes, I did. I don’t think the guy is gonna take the hint otherwise.”
Mom sighed. “You may be right. He asked to take me for a walk after dinner. I don’t know how to dodge the man.”
“I may know of a way,” Aunt Shirley said as she came up behind us. We shifted to include her in our group.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“First off,” Aunt Shirley said looking at Paige. “How’s my niece doing in there?” She gave Paige a little pat on her still-flat stomach.
I laughed at Paige’s face. “Yes, let that sink in. Aunt Shirley is going to want to play with your baby. Teach her all sorts of things. How to break into other people’s houses, how to shave her head and dye it purple, how to drink from a flask instead of a baby bottle.”
Paige blanched and grabbed hold of her flat belly as if protecting the child. “I don’t think so.”
Aunt Shirley shrugged and took a gulp of her homemade margarita. “Don’t sound all that bad to me. She’s gonna need to know these things in order to survive.”
Mom took pity on Paige and steered the conversation in another direction. “You said you may know of a way to keep Wayne from me tonight. What did you mean by that?”
“Well, after I gave Sheriff Simpson the camcorder, I asked Gary if he’d heard anything more from the post master. And he said that the post master, Larry Tubbins, would talk with us tonight.”
“Wow, really?” I asked. “Like at his house?”
Aunt Shirley grinned. “Nope. Like at a bar. I guess tonight there’s a big competition over at the Lazy J Saloon in Millsap, and Ole Larry isn’t willing to miss it. But, if we go to him, he’ll talk with us.”
Paige groaned. “I don’t see anything good coming from this.”
I couldn’t agree more.
I looked around the room but didn’t see Sheriff Simpson. “Where did the Sheriff go?”
“He wanted to take a look at the footage I gave him. Plus, he said he was waiting for a call from the coroner and the one deputy that was on call tonight needed relieved.”
“But we aren’t supposed to leave the house,” Paige reminded Aunt Shirley.
Aunt Shirley grinned. “I told Sheriff Simpson that you girls were surprising me with a night out on the town for my birthday. When I pouted about not being able to leave the farm, he said he didn’t see what a couple hours out could hurt.”
She is good.
“I think I’ll pass,” Mom said.
“Pass on what?” Wayne asked as he joined our group again. “I hope it’s not on our moonlight walk tonight.”
Mom sighed. “Yes. I was telling the girls I’d have to pass on your offer because I need to go somewhere with them later on.”
Wayne frowned. “You’re going out after dinner? I thought Sheriff Simpson said we weren’t allowed to leave?”
I thought fast. “We aren’t, but he gave us special permission to go somewhere for Aunt Shirley’s birthday.”
“And I have some information I want to check out,” Aunt Shirley boasted.
“What kind of information?” Wayne asked. “Do you have a lead or something?”
There was no way I wanted to tell this man anything. While he wasn’t even a blip on my radar as a suspect, I didn’t think we could trust him. Wayne seemed to be all about Wayne.
“Not exactly a lead,” Aunt Shirley said vaguely. “More of we have a question that needs answered. Nothing too promising, yet.”
“Do you need me to go with you?” Wayne asked. “Sometimes having a man around—”
“Is a drag,” Aunt Shirley finished.
Wayne’s frown turned into a full scowl. “I only meant you might need protecting, and I was offering my services.”
Mom held up her champagne glass as though she were holding court. “Thank you all the same, Wayne, but we will be fine. There’s not a single woman here who can’t shoot her way out of trouble.”
That shut him up.
“Dinner is ready,” Dayna announced as she walked into the room.
“Thank goodness,” Aunt Shirley said as she knocked back the last of her drink.
I couldn’t agree more.
Chapter 12
“How many changes of clothes did you bring?” I asked as I watched Aunt Shirley rifle through her side of the dresser.
“I came prepared,” Aunt Shirley said without lifting her head.
“I don’t understand why you need to change. You look fine.”
She actually looked normal for once. She’d worn a pair of slacks and flowered button-down shirt to dinner. Now that we were about to head to the Lazy J Saloon, she wanted to change. We told Mom and Paige we’d go to their door instead of meeting in the parlor. I think Mom wanted to stay clear of an accidental run-in with Wayne.
“Where is it?” Aunt Shirley muttered.
Please don’t let it be from the same store she bought the riding outfit from. Please, no. Please, no.
“Here it is!” Aunt Shirley yanked out a forest green dress with white fringe running from her shoulders down to a V under her chest. There was also white fringe running around the bottom hem.
“What is it with you and your sudden fascination with fringe and tassels?” I asked.
“It’s the latest craze,” Aunt Shirley informed me snootily.
I laughed. “So is the male romper. But you don’t see me begging Garrett to wear one, do you?”
Aunt Shirley snorted. “That would
be pretty funny, though.” She held the dress in front of her and swayed, causing the fringe to move. “I think it’s perfect.”
I held in a sigh and said nothing. I learned a long time ago not to mess with Aunt Shirley when she had her mind made up.
I went into the bathroom to put on some makeup while she got dressed. I reached in my dress, pulled out my cell phone, and called Garrett.
“This is Kimble.”
“This is Sinclair. What’s up?”
Garrett chuckled. “Sorry, Sin. I didn’t even look at the screen. I’m over at Matt’s with Doc Powell, watching the ballgame tonight.”
“Three men, alone, without wives or girlfriends in town on a Saturday night and you all are watching a ballgame on TV? Wow, Kimble, you really know how to live it up.”
Garrett lowered his voice. “It’s a good thing I like that smart mouth of your, Sin.”
The low rumble of his voice caused my stomach to flutter. I missed him, so much. And that scared me. When I thought about spending the rest of my life with him, it left me breathless. When I thought about what comes after that…the spit in my mouth dried up. I was eager for the commitment, scared of the future.
“You still there, Sin?”
I shook myself. “Yep. Just checking in seeing what you were up to. Mom, Paige, Aunt Shirley, and I are going to a bar called the Lazy J Saloon tonight.”
Garrett chuckled. “I really can’t see your mom in a place like that.”
I laughed. “Yeah, well, don’t tell Doc, but there’s some guy here that keeps hitting on Mom. So in order to avoid him she’s going with us.”
Garrett growled. “Is this guy bad news?”
I snorted. “No. He’s an actor who fancies himself an author. But now that we aren’t doing the murder mystery, he’s really more of a nuisance.”
“Speaking of the murder. I didn’t think you guys were supposed to leave the farm? Wasn’t that Sheriff Simpson’s orders?”
I sighed. “Yes. But Aunt Shirley had an idea about something we stumbled across today. So she somehow convinced Sheriff Simpson to let us out for a few hours under the guise that we are celebrating Aunt Shirley’s birthday tonight.”
Bed, Breakfast and Murder (A Ryli Sinclair Mystery Book 4) Page 8
