“I don’t want to falsely accuse anyone of something. It could wreck them.” And himself.
“Fine, but we have to process our ideas. I’m not going to go out there and tell the world these things.”
No, just the men whose names are on the list. And if they didn’t have an affair, it might circulate once again and marriages could fall apart and worse. Rush’s cell phone rang. Gary Plenk. “It’s the coroner.”
“Put him on speaker,” Nora said.
“Hey, Gary, what’s up? You’re on speaker with myself and Nora Livingstone.”
There was a pause on the line. Gary had bad news. Rush glanced at Nora and she nodded. “It’s okay, Gary, you can say what you need to say.”
“I’m so sorry, Nora. The DNA was conclusive.”
“I was prepared for that. Thank you,” Nora said but her voice choked up and she stared at the floor.
“Uh... Rush, could we talk a minute?” Gary asked.
Nora held up her hand and shook her head. Words wouldn’t come. Right now, he wanted to tell Gary to call back later, take Nora into his arms and comfort her, but he doubted she’d let him. She may have been prepared for this call, but the reality was Marilyn was gone. Forever. It was official.
Rush paused, but the look in Nora’s eye told the tale. She wanted to hear it all—needed to. “Go ahead, Gary.”
Gary cleared his throat. “I’m ruling this an accidental death, but when you look at the report and photos, you’ll see some striations on the...on the skull.”
“Cause?” Rush asked, his stomach roiling over what Nora might be imagining. He should have taken Gary off speakerphone.
“Unfortunately, they’re inconclusive.”
“Meaning there could have been foul play involved?” Nora asked, but her voice cracked. “Have you double-checked?”
“I’m sorry, Nora,” Gary said. “I have. They could have come from the impact of the car hitting the water, causing her to hit her head on the steering wheel or another part of the vehicle, but I can’t be one hundred percent sure.”
“Then it’s possible that something else caused those marks.”
“I don’t believe so, no,” Gary said, this time a bit firmer. “I think what we have here is a terrible tragedy, and I am sorry for your loss and the loss of your family.”
“Thanks, Gary. I appreciate it.” Rush hung up before Nora pressed on.
She stood, then sat. Tears spilled over her cheeks as the harsh reality sank in. Rush tried to hold her, but she pushed him away as expected. Instead of getting upset over the fact that she didn’t want him or his comfort, he quietly sat while she dealt with the death inwardly, and then she hurried to the bathroom, closing herself off even further from him. When she returned, he stood. “I’m so sorry, Nora Beth. Is there anything I can do?”
“No. She really is gone. Dad will want to have a proper burial. I need to work on the arrangements.” She sniffed, wiped her nose on her sleeve and composed herself outwardly. “But I can’t dismiss the fact that the striations are inconclusive. That means it’s not definite and you know it.”
There was no arguing that Gary had been the coroner for over a decade and a doctor for twenty years prior. Nora had latched onto the idea that Marilyn had been hurt that night. Rush massaged the back of his neck, working the tightness out. She had a point, even though it was slight.
“And even if she wasn’t murdered, there’s money involved. What if she was blackmailed for something—or forbid it all, blackmailing someone—Money laundering, payoffs...the list is endless. Rush, you’re a total cop. Tell me you think it’s all coincidence and it should be laid to rest and I’ll believe you.”
He couldn’t give her that, as much as he hated to start tearing up innocent families with accusations. “I can’t say that. And you know it. I also know you, and you have no plans of laying anything to rest anytime soon. You were pacifying your dad earlier.”
“So?”
“So I think it’s a good thing he put me next door.”
FOUR
Sunday morning had come earlier than Nora would have liked. She’d been sleeping in on Sundays for a while now, but she’d agreed to go to church with her family and she had. First Community Fellowship and its congregation hadn’t changed much. Rush had been two rows back with his family—minus Pastor Buchanan—which had been a surprise. Looked like his dad had retired. Nora hadn’t kept up with the town news and Dad and Hailey never spoke of Rush. She was thankful for that.
They’d eaten Sunday dinner and now she was bundled up and at the town square for the annual snowman building competition. She’d promised Dalton she’d build one with him. She could count on both hands the years she’d entered this contest with Rush.
Dalton found a good spot next to a bench. “I want to build here.”
“Perfect.”
“I had a feeling you’d be here today,” Rush said with a measure of pep in his voice. “You ran out with your dad pretty fast after the service.”
The sermon on the Prodigal Son had unsettled her heart. Truth did that sometimes. She wasn’t ready to deal with the messes she’d made trying to be someone she wasn’t. “Had to get ready for this.” Was he here to babysit her? Or... “You building a snowman?”
“No. My sister’s kids are.” He pointed across the square to his younger sister and her two littles.
“Do you wanna build a snowman?” she asked.
“Do you?” His eyebrow slyly arched.
Their gazes held. Memories flooded her mind and trickled all the way down to her tummy. Was he thinking of all their fun in the past? The snowball fights. Hot cocoa and kisses.
“I am.” She motioned to the spot she stood on. “With Dalton. We could use some help.”
“And how will that look when we whip all the competition, including my niece and nephew? They’ll cry for weeks.” He chuckled.
“They’ll thank you for not helping them. You’re terrible at it. Remember the year we built Frosty? You didn’t have carrots.”
“Hey, the celery worked. Frosty with sinus congestion.”
Nora snorted and laughed. “It was gross.”
“What? I put a white hanky in his twig hand.” Rush’s boyish mischief could always melt her like snow on a sunshiny day. “And now I have the urge to build a snowman.”
“Then help us and your niece and nephew, but mostly us.” She winked.
“Deal.”
They began to pack the snow and roll the balls. Rush showed Dalton how to pack it tight and keep it from crumbling as they talked about superheroes and Dalton’s enormous Christmas wish list.
“What do you want for Christmas?” Nora asked Rush.
“Easy. Season tickets to the Vols games next year and worldwide peace. Or I’d settle for you being safe...and at peace.”
Nora packed snow on the base of the snowman. “I will be.” She caught his eye and held it. Then smacked him with a snowball, launching an all-out war.
“Hey, we’re gonna lose if you use up all the snow on each other!” Dalton hollered and broke up the fight. They resumed building.
Nora’s toes were cold and some snow had trickled down her collar. She was smoothing out the snowman’s midsection when she spotted Len Franklin. He was on the list of people rumored to have been involved with Mom. Rush didn’t seem too keen on doing anything but making lists. Nora wanted answers. Fast. Now. “Hey, give me a second,” Nora said and darted across the town square, weaving through snowmen, families, friends, couples and benches until she found Len with a middle-aged woman building a snowman.
“Mr. Franklin, I’m Nora Livingstone. Can I talk to you a second?”
Len raised his sunglasses and peered at Nora, his mouth covered with a scarf. “I know who you are, but I don’t know why you’d want to talk to me.”
She glanced at the wo
man, who was watching with curiosity. Nora didn’t recognize her. Had Len remarried? “It’s about my mother, Marilyn, and the rumors surrounding her affair with you.”
The woman gasped. “Excuse me,” she said in a shrill voice.
A few participants stopped building and gawked.
“And who are you?” Nora asked.
“I’m his wife. And I think I’d know if he’d had an affair. Furthermore, this isn’t the time or place to discuss such things.”
Nora ignored the woman and felt a hand on her shoulder.
“You’re right. This isn’t the time or place.” Rush had caught her before she had the chance to get answers.
“Was your divorce a result of having an affair with my mother?” Nora asked quieter. “I’m not budging until you tell me the truth.”
Len Franklin glanced around and leaned in. “Your mother was a tramp and that’s putting it mildly. My divorce had nothing to do with her. And I had nothing to do with her either. I knew better.”
The degrading talk stung and Nora’s cheeks heated as people whispered, chuckled and gasped.
“Rush, is this how you investigate these days? Sic a weather girl on innocent folks? Don’t see you gettin’ elected that way.” He harrumphed and consoled his second wife.
Rush nearly dragged Nora through the snow and behind one of the store shops. “Have you lost your mind? You can’t go off half-cocked like that. Len’s wife is from Texas. She never heard the gossip but she’ll want answers now, and she may always wonder if there’s some truth to that rumor. Do you not understand the definition of discreet? You could have done some real damage, Nora!”
“You mad because I was pushing forward or you might lose a vote for sheriff?”
Rush’s jaw dropped, then he narrowed his eyes. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t ask me that. Your dad is with Dalton. I’m taking you home before you accuse the entire town of affairs and foul play.”
She fell into step with him. Rush was right, though she didn’t want to admit it. “I just wanted to get moving on this. We can make lists all day, but until we start asking some questions we’ve got nothing. And since you haven’t said anything, I’m guessing you haven’t talked to your dad since last we discussed it.”
Rush ignored her and opened the door of his Bronco. “Get in.”
She huffed and slid inside.
They didn’t speak until they reached her chalet.
Rush cut the engine. “One of us has a badge and one of us doesn’t. So, it’s my way or I’ll make sure you have zero involvement in this at all. I can make that happen, Nora.” His tone held no tenderness. He had every right to seethe.
She picked at the edge of her scarf and swallowed a measure of pride. “I’m sorry for what I said. I didn’t mean that.”
“Fine.” Didn’t seem the apology was accepted.
They exited the vehicle and Nora stepped inside her chalet. An eerie feeling sent a new wave of chills over her.
“What is it?” Rush asked.
“I don’t know.” She walked into her bedroom.
The closet door was open. Nora was sure she’d closed it. She tiptoed to the nightstand, heart pounding. What if someone was in the closet now? Without looking, she felt for the gun Rush gave her Friday night. Breath shallow, she frantically searched to no avail.
Glancing down, she saw why.
It was missing.
* * *
Rush stood over Nora’s nightstand and scanned the bedroom. While it hadn’t been tossed, some things did seem to have been moved. The gun missing was the telltale sign, but the place was clear. “What do you think he wanted?” Rush asked.
Nora gnawed on her thumbnail. “I don’t know. Can’t be the gun. No one would know I had it. I think that was an opportunity he couldn’t turn down.”
“The only thing I can think of is the photos. He knows something valuable is in that box and he knows you know.” Good thing they were at Rush’s. “How did he get in?” Rush had searched the chalet and didn’t find a forced point of entry.
“The window in the kitchen was unlocked. I didn’t realize it until after I got wigged out that someone had been in here. I checked. I should have checked Friday night when I arrived.”
No, Rush should have. He’d stayed up late watching the house, making sure she was safe. He’d even spotted the security detail make their thirty-minute cruise by the chalet. With security and Rush being so close, the intruder would have had to have been up in the trees. Watching with binoculars. “I don’t like the idea of you being alone in this cabin. Six feet away in another cabin isn’t going to be good enough. So before you get all freaked out, I’ll stay in the chalet next door. Until midnight. From midnight until seven a.m. I’m bunking on your couch. My car will be next door. No one will think anything untoward is going on, and who’s out here to think anything anyway?”
Nora’s lips pursed. She didn’t love the idea. Rumors were a sore spot, especially if they cast her in a dim light. Nora ran like the wind when trouble came. It was the driving wedge between them. Whether she ran physically or emotionally it was still the same—shutting out Rush. And to say he wasn’t doing his job because he wanted votes? That cut deep.
“Okay, Rush. I’ll agree to it.” She touched his shoulder. “And I really am sorry. I know you’d never ignore your duty. I’m...”
“What?” If she would only open up. What? What would that do besides zero in on his heart and crush it again when she left for Florida?
“Frustrated. That’s all.”
No, it wasn’t. But he didn’t push. He didn’t want to have to press and push. He’d watched Mama do that with Dad for so long. It did no good. They’d lost Dad to the pain and Rush had lost Nora. He needed to get a handle on that and move on. If he was meant to be a bachelor, he’d deal with it. He only wished the loneliness would go away. But better to be alone than in a marriage that felt one-sided. God, Mama needs You to marvelously work on her behalf, and so do I.
“I understand.”
“Can I ask you something off topic? It’s personal.” Nora sucked her lower lip between her teeth. She didn’t have to open up but she wanted him to get personal. He almost laughed, but it was far from funny. She didn’t even wait for his response. “Where was your dad today? Why isn’t he pastoring anymore? How long have you and your family been at First Community Fellowship?”
“That’s three questions.” And this topic was tender for him. Too tender to get into with a woman who wouldn’t reciprocate his feelings. “We’ve been at FCF for about ten years. Since Dad isn’t preaching anymore. He was at home today.”
Nora opened her mouth but clamped it closed. “Gonna snow soon. Sleet later tonight.”
That wasn’t at all what she wanted to say, but relief slid through Rush. He didn’t want to discuss Dad. “I know, and the tourists keep pouring in. They may not be able to get out. Tours in the Smokies have been shut down. Too dangerous out there.”
Hopefully, it wouldn’t slow down business. Tourism was Splendor Pines’ cash cow. Especially during the Christmas season.
“Speaking of dangerous. Do you believe Len Franklin?”
“I don’t know.” What he did know was he hadn’t found any photos that matched a Phantom of the Opera mask with the cuff link. But he had pulled a couple more photos of men in the masks. “I plan to talk to your dad when he gets home. About that money.”
He hadn’t had the time Saturday, and while he hated doing any kind of business on Sunday, it came with the territory.
“I’ll come with you.”
“I know you will. I don’t want to leave you here alone, but once we get to the house, I want to talk to him by myself. If he is withholding information, it might only be from you. Give me the chance to see if he’ll fess up to something to me.”
“I owe you that after what I said.” The n
ext hour they spent drinking coffee and keeping relatively quiet. “Dad’s probably home,” she said, staring out the window.
“All right.”
Nora grabbed her scarf and coat.
They locked up the chalet and drove to the house. Joshua’s car was in the drive. Inside, Joshua sat on the couch watching Dalton put a puzzle together while Hailey was curled up asleep on the love seat. They made small talk, then Rush stood. “Joshua, could we talk privately?”
Joshua set his coffee on the side table and nodded. “My office.”
Nora busied herself with Dalton’s puzzle. At least she was following through with what she said.
Joshua closed the door to his office and perched on the edge of the desk.
Rush had no easy way of doing this. “We found Marilyn’s camera case. Her camera wasn’t in it. But two hundred and fifty thousand dollars was.” He waited a beat, gauged Joshua’s reaction to the news.
Joshua stared past Rush’s shoulder, then slowly spoke. “I gave her that for an anniversary gift. Waterproof. She dropped the camera case before that into the lake. She’d cried for days over lost film.” Joshua’s eyebrows slightly rose and he licked his lips. “You want to know if I was aware that she had that kind of money on her person?”
“Were you?”
“No.”
“But you don’t seem surprised,” Rush said.
Joshua’s jaw twitched. “I knew she had a great deal of money. I made weekly deposits into her personal account.”
“Why not have a joint account like most married couples?”
Joshua folded his arms over his chest. “We weren’t most married couples. Have you ever heard of foster children hoarding food even after they’ve been adopted into a safe family? Even though they love the new parents and trust them, there’s always this fear that they won’t get another meal. At some point, they might stop doing it, but until then, they need that feeling of safety. Security.”
Cold Case Christmas Page 5
