Praying for Time

by Carlene Thompson

  ‘Oh, she would have been thrilled.’ Vanessa swallowed. ‘Has anyone told you about that room in the basement?’

  ‘The sado-masochistic room.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘I’ve heard about it. I had my investigator check it out. I know there are no close neighbors, but no one ever saw anyone around that house. Of course it’s out of the city limits, the street it’s on isn’t heavily traveled with no street lights nearby. It’s possible that people could have come and gone at night and never been seen.’

  ‘Did your investigator go inside?’

  ‘Yes. The property belongs to Miss Hughes and she gave her permission when I told her that you had asked me to check into this matter. She wants to protect Mr Felder’s reputation at all costs, but she trusts you. Anyway, my investigator said it was exactly as you described and he took some photos. Shall I send them to you?’

  ‘That won’t be necessary. I don’t need them. I’ve seen it for myself.’ Vanessa sighed. ‘What a mess.’

  ‘I admit that room has me puzzled, especially because Mr Felder seemed very diligent about keeping all of his business in order – surveys, demolition permits, building permits. He had to know that room would be discovered soon considering all the plans he was making for the house.’

  ‘He didn’t expect to die though.’

  ‘It still seems like he was taking a real risk.’ Harold paused. ‘Do you think Miss Hughes will want to go ahead with the plans for a new house?”

  ‘I don’t know if she has the money for it unless Zane left her enough after inheritance tax and funeral costs and God knows what else.’

  ‘Well, I don’t know the monetary worth of her inheritance, but if she chooses to sell the lot the house is on, she won’t have any trouble getting rid of it. It’s a good size, outside the city limits but near schools, and it has a beautiful view, if I’ve been told correctly. What a shame. It could have been a wonderful place for Libby and Zane to live.’

  TWENTY-FIVE

  Vanessa showered, dressed, and called Christian to ask about Brody. ‘He’s doing as well as can be expected,’ he said. ‘Actually, he’s doing a little better than expected, but I don’t want to get my hopes up. How’s Roxanne?’

  ‘Physically, all right. Emotionally? She’ll barely speak to me or anyone else. She’s holed up in her room.’

  ‘How long do you expect this mood to last?’

  ‘I have no idea, Chris. She’s hurt, she’s disappointed, she feels let down by me. She’s been through so much. I don’t want to push her. Anyway, I’d like to talk to you about something. Do you have some free time this afternoon or should I wait until this evening?’

  ‘I’ll be free around two o’clock. Come to my office.’

  ‘Fine. And Christian?’

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘I love you.’

  Vanessa knocked on Christian’s office door at 2:05 p.m.

  He called, ‘Come in’ and she found him sitting behind his desk. She’d expected him to be smiling. Instead, he looked grim, almost ferocious.

  ‘My God, what’s happened? Did Brody die?’ Vanessa cried.

  ‘No. He’s all right. Please close the door.’

  Vanessa shut the office door and sat down across from Christian’s large desk. ‘What is it? What’s wrong?’

  ‘Remember giving me the capsules you found in Brody’s apartment?’

  ‘Of course.”

  ‘I told you I wanted to have them tested.’ Christian leaned forward and lowered his voice. ‘He takes more than one medicine but the capsules you gave me were Ziprasidone – one of the medications used for the treatment of his schizophrenia. However, inside the capsule was a small amount of Ziprasidone and a large amount of crack.’

  ‘Crack?’ Vanessa repeated blankly. ‘Crack cocaine?’

  Christian nodded gravely.

  ‘But how—’ Vanessa spluttered.

  ‘The crack was broken into extremely tiny chips. If Brody had wanted to use crack, he wouldn’t have gone to all that trouble. Do you know the effects of crack?’

  ‘Not all of them.’

  ‘Irritability, depression, anxiety, paranoia, aggression. The effects come on more slowly if the crack is taken orally, but in the long run, the result is the same.

  ‘Are you sure he took the capsules?’

  ‘His blood tests are positive for crack.’

  Vanessa sat frozen as the shock set in. ‘So someone has been poisoning Brody.’ Christian stared at her. ‘And it started in Portland. That’s why he took off and left everything. That’s why the delusions came back.’

  ‘Yes. I told you that when I’d seen Brody during his episodes in the past, he’d never been violent. But now he is. He isn’t a violent person, Nessa, even off his meds. But he’s violent now because he stayed on his meds – or what he thought were his meds. He’s violent because of the crack.’

  ‘Violent enough to murder Zane? Violent enough to kill Nia and try to kill Roxanne?’

  Christian propped his elbows on his desk and buried his head in his hands. ‘Dear God, I don’t know.’

  Vanessa was barely aware of driving home. Her thoughts were a jumble. Brody had not simply stopped taking his medication – he had been deliberately poisoned. Who would do such a thing? Zane because he wanted to take over Blackbird? Zane, Brody’s best friend who had been distraught when Brody disappeared? Libby? That was inconceivable.

  When she was in his office, Vanessa had told Christian everything she’d learned about Zane’s house with the bizarre room, the S & M room where Roxanne had been held prisoner for months, but it seemed almost anticlimactic in light of the news about Brody’s medication. The house now belonged to Libby, and Vanessa had no doubt that she would move ahead with the demolition and pray that the room in the basement stayed a secret.

  When Vanessa got home, she saw a large arrangement of pink spray roses, carnations, lilies, and alstroemeria in a pink porcelain vase standing on the antique console table in the front hall. She heard Audrey in the kitchen.

  ‘Did we get flowers?’ she asked.

  Audrey looked up from cookie dough she was putting on a sheet. ‘We didn’t get flowers. Roxanne did. They’re from Simon Drake. He brought them personally. The two of them talked for less than five minutes and then went outside. Simon said Roxanne needed fresh air.’

  ‘And she went with him?’

  ‘Without so much as one protest. Maybe she’s still traumatized from her run-in with Brody last night. How is he, Vanessa?’

  ‘Still holding on. Christian said things are looking better for him.’ She wanted to tell Audrey about the crack in Brody’s medication, but she didn’t want the children to overhear. ‘What kind of cookies are you making?’

  Audrey smiled. ‘Peanut butter. Sammy loves peanut butter, as you know. I’m also going to take the kids out to lunch tomorrow.’

  ‘They’ll enjoy that. They need to get out of the house.’

  Before she went upstairs, she walked into the living room and looked out of the big picture window. Simon and Roxanne stood near Simon’s black Mercedes. Simon tilted back his head and laughed. Roxanne stared at him. Then he reached out and touched her arm. Vanessa expected her to pull away but she didn’t. Simon slid his hand down her arm, lightly ran his fingers over her bare hand, then clasped it. Roxanne stood perfectly still, looking at him. He leaned toward her as though he were going to kiss her but stopped, smiled, then got in his car and drove away, Roxanne watching him until he reached the bottom of the hill.

  When she came inside, Vanessa asked, ‘Are you and Simon friends now?’

  Roxanne jumped. ‘I didn’t see you. Were you lurking around, spying on us?’

  ‘You were directly in front of the house. I happened to see you from the living-room window. But you didn’t answer my question.’

  ‘He heard about what happened with Brody last night and he brought me flowers,’ Roxanne said chillingly. ‘Is there a law against someone caring about how
I feel?’

  ‘Everyone cares about how you feel. But be careful around Simon Drake, Roxy.’

  Roxanne gave her a long, hard look. ‘I always am, Vanessa.’

  Vanessa had thought about Brody’s poisoned pills all evening. It had been difficult for her to endure dinner, although Audrey, Sammy, and Cara were in such high spirits they didn’t seem to notice. But Roxanne did. Every time Vanessa looked up from her plate, Roxy was staring at her. Finally, she smiled. The smile was small and stiff, but it was a start. Vanessa had smiled back and winked, trying to indicate a sisterly comradery she knew didn’t exist right now. Maybe in a few days Roxanne would forgive her for trying to save Brody’s life. But Vanessa knew Roxy would never forget it.

  Later that night, Vanessa lay in bed sipping a glass of white wine and trying to watch The Tonight Show. She couldn’t concentrate on the guest promoting his latest movie while the host interrupted with questions intended to get a laugh, but the wine tasted delicious. It had been Grace’s favorite sauterne and she could taste the notes of peaches and honey. She could also feel the high alcohol content. She drained the glass, set it on the nightstand, turned off the television, and finally fell asleep.

  Her dreams were wild and fragmented. Eventually the fragments slowed and then halted on one scene: the S & M room in Zane’s house. ‘Indra’ played loudly in the background. She was overwhelmed by the scent of cedar. Her dream gaze glanced at the black walls and the covered windows. It lingered on the bed with its black velveteen spread and the matching canopy with fringe hanging down like cobwebs. Her eyes moved to the hooks in the wall, the chains, the steel bands meant to bind wrists. She saw the leather masks neatly stacked on a black table, the fetish whip, the ball-gag, the tall brass candlesticks holding black candles, the incense burners still smelling of sandalwood and patchouli.

  The room spread before her in all of its black horror – bizarre, freaky, perfect.

  Perfect! Just like the sets on Kingdom of Corinna!

  Vanessa’s eyes snapped open and she sat up. No one had ever been tortured in that room, no one had ever been held prisoner in that room.

  It was a set meant for an audience.

  TWENTY-SIX

  Vanessa didn’t wake until nine thirty the next morning. She had a headache but her mind was as clear as her memory – the memory of the dream about the S & M room. She knew the dream had unearthed a thought that had been in her subconscious since they’d first entered that supposed horror chamber. It had taken a while, but she was certain she’d realized the truth.

  She picked up her cellphone and called Christian. He didn’t answer. She called the hospital’s main number and was told that Dr Montgomery was unavailable. I should have known, Vanessa thought. He had rounds, he’d be watching over Brody. Besides, there was plenty of time to tell him later.

  When she went downstairs, Vanessa noticed that Roxanne’s bedroom door was closed. Audrey, Cara, and Sammy were in the kitchen, all seeming happy even if Sammy was slightly subdued. ‘Have you seen Roxy yet?’ Vanessa asked.

  ‘I heard her in the kitchen in the middle of the night,’ Cara said. ‘I think she couldn’t sleep, so maybe she’s making up for it this morning.’

  ‘Was she getting something to drink?’

  ‘I don’t know. I was too sleepy to listen really hard.’

  ‘Oh, well, we all have nights when we can’t sleep,’ Vanessa said lightly, although for some reason she couldn’t put a finger on, she felt uneasy. ‘How’s everyone this morning?’

  ‘Fine,’ Audrey said. ‘Derek is taking us for a long lunch today. He’s picking us up at eleven.’

  Derek had not been arrested for Nia’s murder due to lack of evidence but the threat still lingered. Vanessa wondered if the lunch was a final celebration before he was arrested, or if he was simply ignoring the inevitable.

  ‘Eleven? Isn’t that a little early for lunch?’

  ‘He wants to do a few other things. He says they’re a surprise. Cara isn’t going.’

  ‘Why?’ Vanessa asked, looking at Cara.

  ‘Oh, I decided I’d rather stay here and help you take down the Christmas tree, Aunt Vanessa.’

  ‘I’m not actually taking it down—’ Vanessa said.

  ‘You’re taking off the ornaments. And you’re taking down some of the tinsel and other decorations around the house. I heard you saying so yesterday. I’d really like to help.’

  ‘More than going with Derek and Sammy and your mom?’

  ‘They’ll have a good time without me,’ Cara said dismissively. ‘It’s my turn to work.’

  Vanessa looked at Audrey, who shrugged. Cara didn’t sound angry or hurt or jealous, only as if she didn’t care about an outing with two adults and Sammy. Maybe her crush was wearing off, Vanessa thought.

  ‘Now you’re sure you don’t want to come with us?’ Audrey asked an hour later, with Derek and Sammy stood behind her.

  Cara shook her head. ‘Not today. Everybody have a really good time but I’m going to stay here and help Vanessa. She needs me.’

  ‘All right, but you’ll be missing a lot of fun,’ Derek told her.

  ‘That’s fine.’ The girl began shepherding the three of them toward the front door. ‘You’ll never even know I’m not there. Bye, bye! See ya later!’

  As soon as they were gone, Cara whispered to Vanessa, ‘I think a policeman will be tailing them. After all, nobody’s found Sammy’s mom’s killer. They’re probably afraid Derek will run away.’

  ‘How do you know that?’

  ‘Television.’

  ‘Is that why you didn’t want to go with them?’

  Cara grinned. ‘No. Policemen don’t scare me.’

  Vanessa and Cara both tied back their long black hair with matching red ribbons and started to work. They carried in all the ornament and tinsel boxes from the garage where they’d been stored for over a week while their contents were on display.

  ‘Where’s Queenie?’ Cara asked.

  ‘Pete’s taking her for a long walk.’

  ‘He really likes her and I know she’ll enjoy her walk, but she’d also be a big help taking down the tree.’

  ‘A big help? Really? Like when we were decorating the tree and she kept running off with the satin-covered Styrofoam ornaments? She thought they were fancy tennis balls.’

  Cara bent over laughing. ‘Grace thought that was so funny! Remember how much she laughed?’

  ‘Sure I do. I don’t think she ever had as much fun putting up a Christmas tree.’

  Cara picked up the embroidered green felt tree skirt and folded it carefully before placing it in a tissue paper-lined box. ‘This sure is pretty,’ she said. ‘It’s a shame you can’t see it when all the gifts are piled on top.’

  ‘My mother made it a long time ago for Roxy. She worked on it for a month, sewing on the white figures of reindeers and elves and Santas then embroidering our names on it in script. She could write script.’ Vanessa pointed to a name written in script. ‘It’s very hard to do.’

  ‘I’d like to learn.’ Cara looked at Roxanne swirling beside a figure of Santa Claus. ‘I think my name would look nice in script. So would Sammy’s, although his dad would want it to say Samuel. Sammy was named for Derek’s father Samuel Allan Sherwin.’

  ‘That’s a nice name,’ Vanessa said casually, removing a few more ornaments. ‘Cara, why didn’t you want to go with everyone else today?’

  ‘Well, when Sammy and I are together, we talk all the time. We just can’t help ourselves. I thought it would be nice for Sammy to talk more to Mom than he does when I’m around. They could get to know each other better and that’s important because …’ Vanessa raised her eyebrows. ‘Because I think by spring Derek is going to ask Mommy to marry him.’

  ‘Do you want Derek to marry your mother?’

  ‘Oh yes! So does Sammy. And I’m sure Derek wants to marry Mommy. I wanted to … well … help things along.’

  Cara looked at Vanessa almost as if she expect
ed a rebuke. Instead, Vanessa threw back her head and laughed. ‘Cara Willis, you are one smart girl! In fact, you’re beyond smart – you’re a strategist. You remind me of Grace.’

  ‘I remind you of Grace? Really?’ Cara beamed. ‘Gosh, that’s the best compliment I have ever had!’

  They worked steadily for another ten minutes when suddenly the front door flew open and Roxanne rushed in, looking unkempt and slightly wild-eyed. She slammed the door behind her. ‘Where have you been?’ Vanessa asked in surprise.

  ‘I took a walk. A long walk. In the woods.’

  ‘Did you see Pete and Queenie?’ Cara asked.

  Roxanne looked at her in annoyance. ‘No. Why would I? What are you doing?’

  ‘Taking down the tree ornaments. Do you want to help?’

  ‘Help? Why the hell would I want to help?’ Cara had frozen, ornament in hand. ‘I want a shower. Now. And don’t let anyone else in. Do you hear me, Nessa? No one!’

  As Roxanne hurried upstairs, Vanessa and Cara looked at each other, bewildered. ‘Maybe we should ignore her,’ Vanessa said.

  But in a moment, a car screeched to a halt in front of the house. Vanessa jumped up and glanced out of the window to see Jane Drake clambering from her small, blue car. She was dressed in nurses’ scrubs and clutching something as she ran up the porch steps and banged on the front door. When it didn’t open, she screamed, ‘Vanessa, I know you’re in there! Open the door or I’ll knock out this fancy stained glass!’

  ‘Oh, gosh!’ Cara cried. ‘She sounds really mad but Roxanne said not to let anyone inside!’

  ‘I don’t care what she said,’ Vanessa muttered as she went to the front door and opened it. ‘Jane, what’s wrong?’

  Jane pushed past her into the entrance hall. ‘What’s wrong? What’s wrong? My father is dead!’

  ‘Oh! I’m sorry. How—’

  ‘He was killed. Roxanne murdered him!’