Death by Donation

by Sarah Hualde

  Ivy breathed with relief when Della finally left earshot until she noticed Grant didn’t relax.

  “Is something wrong?” Ivy searched Grant’s face for clues. There was nothing to read. “Don’t pay attention to Della. You did very well keeping calm. And don’t worry about her being rude to me. She could have done much worse.” Ivy did her best to keep a smile in her tone. The silence made her anxious. She bounced Scout on her hip.

  Grant slowly set down his cup before meeting Ivy’s gaze. “Is Scout really yours?” His face was pale and disapproving. Ivy’s throat tightened.

  “Yes. I thought you knew.” Instinctively, she nuzzled Scout’s soft hair.

  “I thought she was Lydia’s.”

  “No. Scout’s my baby. Nine months old.”

  “Her father?” Grant’s eyes drifted toward the wall. His tone went hollow. It struck agonizing terror in Ivy’s chest. She wanted to run. She wanted to hide. She wanted to make Grant smile at her again.

  “Not part of her life.”

  “Where is he?” Grant shifted away from the table.

  “Prison.”

  “Prison?”

  Ivy felt the fire of her burning tears before she realized she was crying. She hadn’t noticed how much she wanted Grant to approve of her, to like her, and to like Scout.

  “Yes,” Ivy’s chin dropped.

  Grant cleared his throat. He turned toward the door without taking another look at Ivy. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to see how my aunt is doing.”

  Ivy watched him leave. Each step farther from her felt like a slug to the gut. She held Scout closer and sniffed in her sweet baby scent. What had she been thinking?

  Chapter 21

  The drive home from the memorial was silent. Lydia and Ivy both had too much to process to converse. Lydia stayed with Ines when Gus announced Bill’s apartment had been ransacked. Ines was frustrated but seemed far from surprised.

  Bill graced the mourners for ten minutes and then retreated back upstairs to the guest room. Rumors were flying over Ines and Bill’s sudden decision to run away together instead of waiting another two weeks for their wedding.

  Lydia asked Ines about the swift shift in scheduling. Ines’ nearly broke down.

  “There’s so much I want to talk to you about. So much has happened in such a short amount of time. I’m so confused. Maybe tomorrow? Would you mind?” Lydia was thrilled Ines trusted her enough to schedule a deep talk over coffee, but Ines’ posture and lack of composure had Lydia scared.

  Things seemed great on Friday. On Saturday, Ines and Bill were happy and united. Then Jake died and Della arrived and a cloud covered the couple. Lydia knew death could mess with every relationship a person had. She understood trauma’s strain on the status quo. Finding a new common ground could take a good long time. But Bill hardly knew Jake. They shared DNA but not memories or lifestyles. Bill was taking Jake’s death harder than Lydia could have predicted.

  Della wasn’t making things any easier. Lydia got the creeps when speaking with the woman. Though Lydia hoped she was just being an overprotective small-town busybody, she didn’t want to fully shut down her natural intuition.

  Della made a good show but Lydia doubted Della’s grief. The newcomer didn’t seem all that upset. At the memorial, she showed off her cleavage more than mourned her cousin. Della flirted and toyed with Bill. Perhaps she was the chink in the relationship. Maybe her attention had Bill looking for a younger more exciting option than Ines the librarian. Lydia couldn’t see it. But she also couldn’t see anything else that made sense.

  ✽✽✽

  Ivy stared out the passenger window and reflected on the evening. After Grant’s abrupt departure from the game room, Ivy stayed alone long enough to regain her calm facade.

  Ivy took two loads to cart her dishes to the kitchen. She bussed her table with Scout on one hip. Scout squirmed. Ivy had a hard time keeping her daughter’s pudgy fingers off the teetering pile of plates and cups. The baby grasped at whatever caught her attention.

  On her last trip to the sink, Maddie stepped in through the back door. Cigarette smoke followed her, even though she’d snuffed out the smoldering butt.

  She gleamed at Ivy and Scout. “I’ve been hoping to bump into you two.” Maddie scrubbed her hands in the sink and dried them with a kitchen towel. “Do you mind? May I hold her?”

  Ivy didn’t know Maddie, not really. And she didn’t like the thought of a stranger holding her girl. Still, Ivy knew that sometimes people needed to cradle a baby if only for a moment, to remember innocence still existed in the world. Ivy had just finished doing that herself. “Sure,” she said and handed Scout over.

  Maddie's face shined. “I have a little girl.” Ivy’s heart thudded. A sad story lingered behind Maddie’s eyes. “But, I was too screwed up to keep her. She lives with her Grandmother, now. I haven’t seen her in three years but next month I’ll get to hold my baby again.”

  Ivy sniffled. “That’s good news.”

  “Yes, it is. Yes, it is. I don’t ever intend on losing her again.”

  “What’s her name?”

  “Leah.”

  Silence thickened the awkward confession. Ivy didn’t know what to say. Too many of her acquaintances lived on Maddie’s daughter’s end of things for Ivy to tell Maddie it would all work out for the best. It sure hadn’t worked out for Emily. Still, she was happy that Maddie found the strength to fight her inner demons, whatever they were, and would soon be back with her daughter.

  There weren’t any words that could express how either party felt, so instead they each looked at Scout as she tried to snag hold of Maddie’s hoop earrings until one of them thought of a different topic of discussion.

  “How long are you staying at the Sleeping Pretty?”

  Maddie’s eyes shifted to the right, refocusing on the moment. “A day, maybe two, if the inspector approves it. Lou’s driving back with his family, tonight. One of us has to stay with the mobile. Once the inspector and the Deputy say we’re in the clear, a tow will come for the mobile. I’ll sign off on the entire mess and head home.”

  “I’m sure you’re looking forward to putting this weekend behind you.”

  “More than you know. The Deputy is nice and all, but I don’t like being questioned by the police. It makes me jumpy.”

  “How many times has Gus needed to question you?”

  Maddie scrolled through her memory. She rubbed Scout’s back with her hand as she thought. “Two, three times? If you don’t count when the investigator was down.”

  “What did he want to know?”

  “Only the normal stuff. How well I knew Jake? What did Jake do in his spare time? Did Jake have any visitors or family that swung by the mobile?”

  “And?”

  “I didn’t know much about Jake. He never spoke of his family. There was a man that came by, about once a week. But Jake never seemed happy to see him. Jake would take a break and the man would leave.”

  “What about Della?”

  Scout whined and stretched out for Ivy. Maddie gave her a quick squeeze and passed her back to her mother. “I only met her during this trip.”

  “And the man? Would you recognize him, if you saw him again?” Ivy patted Scout’s diaper as the baby curled into her mother’s safe arms.

  “Anywhere.”

  Chapter 22

  Morning came earlier than Lydia expected. She and Ivy had retreated to their own rooms after the memorial. She had hoped to debrief with the teenager but neither lady had enough energy to fathom pouring into their sides of the story.

  Lydia dressed in the dark. The morning sun was starting to get lazy in Honey Pot and before long it wouldn’t grace the town until ten am. Lydia still had an hour before the first ray of light cracked through the receding storm clouds. She shivered in the chill and hoped Ethan was keeping warm. Even without electricity.

  Ivy greeted Lydia with a half-hearted hello as she descended the stairs. “Where are you off to?”<
br />
  “Breakfast with Ines. Do you want to come along? Ines said she wanted to talk. But I’ll buy breakfast for all of us if you don’t mind hitting up the library with Scout while we chat.”

  Ivy considered it for a moment. She really didn't want to see anyone associated with Grant Justice or the events of the previous evening. However, she did want breakfast and she didn’t want to sit in the house wallowing all day. Getting out might distract her just enough to be recentering. “Sure. How much time do I have?”

  “Leave in twenty minutes?” Lydia checked the time on her phone before placing it in her purse.

  “Done.”

  ✽✽✽

  At 3 Alarm Coffee, Ines sat with her head propped in her palms. Her eyes were even puffier than the day before and her face was ragged with worry.

  Ivy didn’t bother sitting down with Lydia. She strapped Scout in a high chair two tables away, before remembering her and Grant had sat there just the other day. He’d been so sweet and understanding. She shoved away the thought and placed an order with Tamas, the general manager.

  Lydia secured her seat immediately. She didn’t bother ordering her cup of black coffee. Ines looked too frenzied to stall for coffee.

  “Have you been waiting long?”

  “I’ve been here since they opened. I didn’t want to be at the house,” Ines said.

  “Is it really that bad?”

  Ines sniffled and wiped her tears with a napkin. “Worse. That woman is insufferable! Bill has lost his mind and I have no idea what to do.”

  “Okay. Why don’t we start at the beginning?”

  Ines took a deep breath and a sip of hot tea before starting her tale. “I don’t know how much to disclose. I love Bill. I don't want you to think poorly of him. I really want to believe this is just a speed bump. Truly, nothing like this has happened before. I don’t want to sound like a sob story but I swear if that wretched woman is at my house when I get home I might just throttle her.”

  Lydia offered what she hoped was a comforting smile of camaraderie. But deep down she was startled. Ines never showed her emotions. Before Bill, Lydia doubted she had any, outside of the books she devoured. She’d never seen Ines rant about anything, let alone sling random threats around. She was glad there weren’t many diners enjoying breakfast in the cafe. Who knows what kind of trouble Ines would get into if her hostility toward Della hit the rumor mill?

  Lydia decided to change the subject, or at least veer off the current issue. “Did Gus learn anything about the break-in at Bill’s?”

  It took a while for Ines to recalibrate and tune into the new topic. “I went over there with him early this morning. He questioned Bill right after the memorial.”

  “Bill didn’t go with you to the apartment?”

  Ines shook her head and heaved back a weary sigh. Whatever thoughts came to her she swallowed down with her last gulp of tea. Lydia waved Tamas over. “Refill? And black for you?” Tamas didn’t need a pad for so simple an order. He returned with the drinks, placing them before their proper patron. “Anything else?”

  Lydia pointed toward Ivy. “Add this and whatever Ivy orders to my bill. I’ll pay up before I leave.”

  “I’ll put it on your tab.” Tamas set a mint chocolate coffee stirrer on Ivy’s table as he passed by. Ivy smiled. The manager winked.

  Ines revived herself with a tentative sip of her boiling tea. “Bill was too exhausted to go with me. He barely offered a grumble when I knocked on the guest room door. I went alone. I know Bill’s apartment almost better than he does. I clean it for him once a week. He has a very tidy brain but not very tidy living habits. It will be a source of huge adjustment pains after the wedding.”

  “Which is due to happen, when?”

  Ines shrugged. “Bill wants to get married on Saturday. He says he’s lined up a preacher in Ashton who has an opening. It won’t be the wedding I wanted but maybe it will calm Bill down. Besides, we already finished counseling. I haven’t told him I will go through with it yet. But I know I will. Lord knows I’d do anything for Bill. And once he’s back to himself, he feels the same way about me.” A rebel tear drifted onto Ines’ cheek. She ignored it.

  “What did Gus have to say about the break-in? Was anything stolen?” Lydia wrapped her hands around her warm mug.

  “It wasn’t exactly a break-in. Gus says there was no proof of forced entry. Bill doesn’t hide a key. I have one and Bill has one. But that’s it. We didn’t do it. Gus didn’t find any out-of-place prints, so we’re all at a loss. Why anyone would bust into Bill’s is beyond me. He doesn’t keep any valuables there. After our engagement, anything he did have went into the safe in my library.”

  “What do you think they were after?”

  “Gus says he suspects they were looking for cash and when they couldn’t find that they took to scavenging for credit card information. Most of Bill’s mail and his files were tossed all over the place. They didn’t even touch his fireproof briefcase. Gus thinks they didn’t find it. It was in its usual place. Under the kitchen sink. We’re all baffled.” Ines rubbed her temples and leaned against the back of the booth.

  Chapter 23

  Ivy timidly approached Lydia and Ines. With Scout cradled in her arms, she waved her phone screen at Lydia. “Sorry to interrupt.” Ines turned her face away, composing herself before facing the teen. “I got a text from Maddie.”

  Lydia’s eyes widened. “Why is she texting you?”

  “She and I had a long conversation, yesterday. Anyway, she spotted the mystery man at the Sleeping Pretty. He was knocking on Della’s door.”

  “What? Who?” Ines’ dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a napkin.

  Lydia slurped down her coffee and flagged down Tamas for her bill. “This man that keeps popping up around town. He was spotted outside Bill’s yesterday.”

  “The break-in? I wish Gus had told me there was a mysterious man hanging around Bill’s.”

  “He didn’t?”

  Ines’ face flickered with curious concern. “I wonder if it’s the same man Grant claims is following me.”

  Ivy and Lydia locked eyes. “You mean your secret admirer?”

  Ines nearly laughed but she couldn’t force herself to smile. “That’s what Grant calls him. I’ve never seen him. Then again, I’ve only ever had eyes for Bill. I don’t notice much else when he’s around.”

  Ivy shifted Scout on her hip. “So, you wouldn’t recognize him if you saw him?”

  “No,” Ines said. “But Grant probably would.”

  “We’ll ask him,” Lydia sighed, adding to her day’s to-do list. “Can we finish this later,” she asked Ines.

  “Of course. In fact, you can do me a favor?” Ines held up a glittery black clutch. “Please, return this to Della. She’s in room 18.”

  Lydia took the bag. “Got it. Room 18.”

  “Thanks, I really don’t feel up to another face to face with Della. Besides, I think I could use a nap. Maybe I can slink home and into bed before anyone notices.” Ines rose and attempted to square her shoulders. But her exhaustion only afforded her a few seconds of strength. Lydia hugged Ines, tightly. Ines returned it and shivered.

  “Call me later and we can catch up.”

  Ines nodded and left the cafe as Lydia paid the bill. “For being here since opening, Ines didn’t eat a whole lot.”

  Tamas swiped Lydia’s card and looked at her. “She wasn’t here since opening. She arrived maybe twenty minutes before you guys,” Tamas said.

  ✽✽✽

  Ivy waited in the car. Scout had fallen asleep during the drive. The teen didn’t want to disturb her. She also didn’t want to deal with Della Strap. She never wanted to see the woman again. Lydia would take Della her purse and then meet Maddie by the pool. If Scout woke up before they chatted, Ivy might join them. But only if Della Strap stayed secluded in her room.

  Ivy watched Lydia walk up to the door of room 18. Della’s sparkly purse dangled from her left hand. With her right
, Lydia knocked three times.

  There was no answer. Lydia waited, shifting her weight from heel to toe and back again. She repeated her knocking. No answer.

  Lydia looked around. The door the room 27 across the u-shaped parking area creaked open and shut promptly. Lydia was certain she wasn’t knocking that loudly. The resident must have been feeling snoopy and wanted a peek at the action.

  Lydia watched the door to 27 as well as the front window. No new movement occurred. She turned back toward number 18 and raised her fist to knock for the third time. This time her knuckles felt the sting of impact.

  If Della didn’t open the door soon, Lydia was going to leave her purse at the front desk. Lydia wanted desperately to talk with Maddie. Ivy’s short explanation on the drive over had Lydia’s sixth sense scratching the nape of her neck.

  A scream sent her hackles aflame. Every hair on her skin sat on edge and her muscles tightened.

  A second yell resounded. This time the owner begged for help. The construction of the parking area forced the screeching to ricochet from building to building. Lydia couldn’t tell where it was coming from. Her eyes landed on room 27. No curtains moved. Instantly she thought of a scene from a Hitchcock movie. In said scene, a woman screaming over the loss of her dog sent everyone to their windows to see what was wrong. Everyone but the dog’s killer. Doors opened all over the complex. Door 27 stayed shut tight.

  Chapter 24

  The passenger window of the truck rolled down. Ivy flagged Lydia and pointed toward the reception area. “It’s Maddie,” she hollered. “Over by the pool.”

  Lydia rounded the corner of the motel office. There stood Maggie with a cigarette burning in her hand. She was pacing near the Jacuzzi. Cigarette ash broke off in the breeze. Lydia hurried to the bubbling water and commanded, “Turn off the heat and the jets!”

  Maddie promptly obeyed. Lydia braced herself and sucked in a large strengthening breath. She plunged her hands into the hot water and wrapped them around the woman’s torso.