by Grace York
Angie twitched nervously as Addison spoke, but the needle didn't get any closer to Dennis's neck. Addison kept talking.
"Jenna, or rather her associate, Finn, found out that Angie had received other such financial 'gifts' from grateful patients."
"I didn't coerce anyone," said Angie. "It was their right to leave me whatever they wanted."
"That's for the police to sort out. Whether it was legal or not, I'm guessing the nursing homes you've worked for would be interested to hear how you've been gifted money by nine terminally ill patients over the last six years."
Layla stepped forward. "You little—"
Addison shot out an arm to stop her. She had no idea what was in that needle. The last thing they wanted to do right now was spook the woman.
"I was trying to help you," Angie said to Layla. "Your sister didn't care about your father. She didn't care about anyone. All she wanted was his money, as if she didn't already have enough of her own. I got rid of her for you."
"She was my sister!"
"Jenna."
They all looked at Dennis, who was now crying openly. "Jenna," he said again.
"Oh my goodness," said Layla. "You knew, Dad. You weren't asking for Jenna all day. Or Angie. You were trying to tell me Angie killed Jenna." Dennis nodded, and Layla started to cry too.
"I told him I got rid of her," said Angie. "So the good daughter would inherit his money. I thought he'd be happy. I did it for you. For your family."
"You did not," Layla screamed.
Addison was shocked at the force of Layla's voice. She glanced backwards searching for her daughter, but Olivia was gone. She must have backed out at some point.
"You killed my sister to cover up what you'd done. All the money you stole from dying people. You're nothing but a thief and a murderer!"
Addison couldn't hold Layla back anymore. They both lunged forward at the same time, Layla grabbing Angie and Addison going for the needle. Addison managed to grab hold of the needle and get it away from Dennis, but Angie broke free from Layla's grasp.
She got as far as the doorway before she ran straight into Olivia and Constable Short.
30
Jenna's funeral was held two days after Angie was arrested for her murder. Layla finally settled on having it in Getaway Bay, so her father could be there. He'd been well enough to attend the service, then Layla and Addison had gone with him back to the nursing home and settled him in for the evening.
"There you go, Dad," said Layla, tucking him into bed. "Do you want me to read to you? I think we've only got a couple of chapters to go."
Dennis shook his head. Layla had hold of one hand, and he held out the other towards Addison. She came forward and took hold of it, and Dennis smiled and closed his eyes. Addison felt him squeeze her hand hard, and it looked like he was doing the same on Layla's side.
"I think he's happy," said Addison.
"Me too. Good night, Dad." Layla leaned forward and gave him a kiss on the forehead. They sat with him for a while as he drifted off to sleep.
"Let's go," Layla whispered once his breathing had evened out.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. We've got a party to go to."
By the time they arrived at the beach house, Olivia was in full entertaining mode. It was a small but lively bunch that had gathered in the backyard for Jenna's wake. Jason had cleared some of the overgrown vegetation, and they'd set up a barbecue where the new pizza oven was going to be. Detective Wilcox and Mrs Jones had both provided some outdoor chairs, and Hazel and her husband Martin had brought an esky full of cold drinks. Bella and Charlie were off exploring the rest of the backyard.
"How is he?" asked Mrs Jones once Layla and Addison had joined the circle.
"He's doing okay," said Layla. "He was quite lucid during the service, but then in the car on the way back to the home he asked why Mum hadn't been there."
"He seemed content when we left just now," said Addison.
Layla changed the subject. "Did that woman confess?" she asked Detective Wilcox.
"She did," he replied, handing both Layla and Addison a glass of white wine each before retaking his seat. "It seems she's been pulling the 'remember me in your will' trick for quite a few years. She'd built up a nice little nest egg for herself. We'll be working on getting that back to the families, but it will be a drawn-out affair. She's not going to need it where she's going."
"Was she in there with Jenna when I was outside the gallery?" Jason asked.
Wilcox nodded. "Yes. She said she heard you, and kept quiet until you left."
"Could I…"
"There was nothing you could have done," said Wilcox. "Jenna was already dead at that point. Angie brought a wrench she'd stolen from the nursing home's handyman. She says she only wanted to scare Jenna into giving her the evidence regarding the wills, but things escalated."
"Jenna wasn't easily scared off," said Layla.
"No, I suspect not. Whether Angie went there with the intention of murder or not is up to the courts to decide. But either way, she'll be going to prison for a very long time."
"I can't believe she had me so fooled," said Layla. "I really thought she genuinely cared for Dad."
"I still think she did," said Addison. "Just because she got money out of them, didn't mean she didn't care for her patients. I think she saw a way to use her situation to get a few extra bucks."
"Well it's still manipulating and cold," said Jason. "I'm glad Jenna caught her. I'm just sorry it cost her her life. If only I'd been there sooner."
"We can't live our lives with what if's, Jason," said Addison.
"No, I guess you're right." He got himself another beer from the esky, then turned to Wilcox. "Why did she light the fire? Was that my fault?"
"It had nothing to do with you. After you left she searched for the evidence Jenna had obtained, but was unable to find anything. So she set the place on fire to destroy it, plus any evidence of the murder." He took a sip of his beer and looked at Layla. "She used your blank canvases and methylated spirits to start the fire."
"Well I'm glad you finally caught her," said Hazel. "We don't need drama like this in Getaway Bay. My goodness, Addison, what a welcome you've had."
"It has certainly been eventful," said Addison. "I'm looking forward to settling down now. Speaking of which…" she nodded towards the dilapidated shed in the corner of the yard. "Jason, do you think you could get that cleaned up and structurally sound enough to be a useable space?"
Jason leaned back in his chair and studied the shed. "I don't see why not. What did you have in mind?"
"I'd like to turn it into an art studio."
Both Layla's and Olivia's eyebrows raised.
"I've been thinking a lot about this house as a bed and breakfast," Addison said. She spoke mostly to Olivia. "I think you're right, hon. It would be too much work. But I still want company. I want people to cook for and talk to. I don't want to be rattling around in this big old house by myself."
"So what are you going to do?" asked Olivia, frowning now.
"I'm going to run the beach house as a boarding house for writers and artists. They can pay a weekly board, clean their own rooms, and I'll provide food and space for them to work. If they can pitch in around here as well I won't need to hire any extra help, so I can keep the board affordable. They can stay for as long or as little time as they like."
"Oh, Addison," said Layla, clasping her hands together, "I'm sure you'll please a lot of struggling artists with that idea! How wonderful!"
A few of the others murmured sounds of approval, but Addison concentrated on Olivia. "What do you think?"
Olivia beamed. "I think it's a great idea. You'll still have company, but you'll have a lot less work to do. It's brilliant. But I hope you'll still keep baking."
It was Addison's turn to smile. "Well that's the other thing. I was thinking I might ask if a certain café in town might like me to bake a few treats for them on a regular basis?"
&n
bsp; Hazel's eyes lit up. "Really? You could bake for me?"
Addison nodded. "I'd want to do it from my kitchen here, but I don't see any reason why I couldn't deliver a selection of treats to the café every morning. What do you think?"
"I think that sounds just perfect," said Hazel. She raised her glass. "In fact, I'll even drink to that."
Everyone raised their glasses and beer bottles. "To new beginnings," said Wilcox.
"To new beginnings," everyone repeated.
"And to Jenna," said Jason. "May she rest in peace."
"To Jenna," said the group. There was a moment's reflection, and Addison said a silent goodbye to her cousin. She might not have been her favourite person, but Jenna hadn't deserved to die like that. Addison hoped she was enjoying a glass of wine with her mother somewhere.
Charlie and Bella came and joined the circle, bringing everyone back to the present. Charlie took up his position at Olivia's feet, and Bella jumped up onto Mrs Jones's lap.
"Oh, that was the other thing I meant to ask you, Jason," said Addison. "Any chance you could install a dog door for Charlie? I'm getting tired of opening and closing the back door for him all the time."
"Mum!" cried Olivia with delight. "Does that mean we can keep him?"
"Absolutely," said Addison. "I can't imagine the beach house without him. Can you?"
Olivia answered by jumping up and smothering her mother in a hug, almost knocking Addison's chair over. Everyone laughed, and Addison felt surrounded by love. She could picture many nights like this in her future here at the beach house in Getaway Bay.
It finally felt like home.
The Body in the Beach House
1
Addison slid the casserole dish into the oven just as her phone rang. She wiped her hands on her apron, plonked herself into a chair, and answered her daughter's call.
"Hi, sweetheart. How's life on campus today?"
"Busy, Mum," said Olivia. Addison recognised the tone and braced herself for what she felt coming. "I'm not going to make it home this weekend."
Addison closed her eyes and tried not to sigh down the phone. She missed Olivia terribly, but didn't want her to feel obliged to come visit.
"That's okay. Are you going out with your friends?"
"No. Well, sort of. We've got a group assignment thing to get done, so we'll be spending a lot of time on that in the common room. I dare say someone will suggest an outing at some point, though."
Addison smiled. In the six weeks her daughter had been living on campus she'd thrown herself into her studies, but she'd also managed to make a lovely bunch of friends. "Good. It can't be all work and no play, sweetheart."
"I know, Mum. How are things going at the beach house?"
"Pretty well. I'm just about to join everyone on the verandah for pre-dinner drinks." Since turning the beach house she'd bought in Getaway Bay a few months ago into a retreat for writers and artists, Addison had acquired four boarders. They were all lovely people, and they'd soon got into the habit of meeting on the verandah late in the afternoon to discuss their work. Addison loved hearing about their creative endeavours, and she especially loved that it was happening right here in her own home.
"How are the latest two settling in?"
"Amelie and Patrick? They fit right in."
"Are they a couple?"
"No," said Addison. "I thought so when they first arrived together, but Patrick tells me they're just friends. They met while travelling a couple of months ago and decided to stick together for a bit. Then they saw my advertisement, and both thought the beach house would be perfect. They've taken separate rooms, so I guess they are just friends."
"Fair enough. I look forward to meeting them next weekend."
Addison's heart lifted. "You'll be home then?"
"I think so. As long as we get this assignment finished this weekend, I should be able to make it."
They chatted for a few more minutes before Olivia had to go. Addison smiled as she thought of her daughter in her dorm room. Olivia had adjusted to life away from home with only a few small hiccups, and after everything she'd been through over the last couple of years Addison was very proud of her.
Ivy Hathaway floated into the kitchen, breaking Addison's reflection.
"Good afternoon," she said, plucking a bottle of white wine from the fridge. "Shall I get you a glass?"
"Hi, Ivy. Yes, I was just about to join you all. I'll bring the glasses. How many?"
Ivy counted off on her fingers. "Us two, Dan, and Amelie. Adam's having a beer. Not sure about Patrick, he hasn't come down yet."
"Four glasses, coming right up."
They joined the others on the verandah and Ivy poured the wine. Addison had purchased a couple of outdoor lounges for the space, and it had become a comfortable spot for the beach house's residents to gather and see out the last of the day's sunshine.
Jason Sadler, the handyman Addison had hired to help fix up the beach house, had done a wonderful job helping her with the interior. He was now working outside, and had brought in a subcontractor, Louie, to help him with the landscaping Addison wanted done at the front and back of the house. Jason was working out the front this afternoon, and Addison called out to ask him to join them for a drink.
"I'll just finish off here, then get Louie," he replied. "He's working on the shed out the back."
The shed he referred to was being converted into a studio for the artists to use. Addison was determined to give her boarders everything they needed to be their creative selves.
Addison smiled as she watched three of her boarders getting along so well. Ivy, Adam, and Amelie were just the kind of people she'd been thinking of when she'd finally decided what she wanted to do with the beach house and all its rooms. With Getaway Bay being such a popular tourist destination she'd originally planned to run the house as a bed and breakfast. But the thought of all the work involved in such an undertaking soon had her changing her mind.
"Cheers," said Dan, raising his glass. "Thanks for having me tonight, Addison."
"You're most welcome," Addison replied. "The more the merrier." Dan was Ivy's brother, in town on a working holiday with his wife and two children. His family had gone off to the Gold Coast for a couple of days while Dan stayed back to work, apparently, and Ivy had asked if Dan could join them for dinner that evening.
Addison had first placed an advertisement online on one of those websites where people offer rooms in their house, but the responses were all from holiday makers looking for a week here and there. Then she'd discovered a site specifically for artists, and placed an ad there for creative people looking for accommodation. Adam O'Loughlin had been the first to respond, and Ivy Hathaway shortly after. They'd been at the beach house for four and three weeks respectively. Amelie Lacrosse and Patrick Wilde had arrived two weeks ago, and with Addison's cousin Layla still staying there, the beach house was now officially full.
"Where's Layla this afternoon?" Ivy asked.
Addison looked at her watch. It was past five o'clock. "She was meeting with a builder over at the gallery site. I'm sure she'll join us soon." Since Layla's art gallery and adjoining home had burnt down in a fire in January, she was busy working on having it rebuilt. She'd lost her sister in the fire, too, and her father had passed away not long after. She was staying with Addison while she got her life back on track.
As much as Addison wanted Layla to rebuild the gallery and be happy again, she was going to miss having her cousin at the beach house. They'd had a lot of fun together over the last few weeks, welcoming guests and learning to laugh again.
"Don't worry," said Adam, squeezing Addison's arm. "When the gallery's finished she'll still only be a few minutes away." Addison gave him a warm smile; he was very perceptive for such a young man.
"I know." Addison changed the subject. "Where's Patrick? He's usually first to the fridge in the afternoon."
"I think he was working on his book today," said Amelie. "Maybe he finally got past th
e point where he was stuck." Amelie had arrived in Australia from France at the age of eight, but she still had the faintest of accents, which Addison found delightful.
"I'll go up and let him know we've started without him," said Ivy. She was inside the house and up the stairs before Amelie could protest.
"If he's working again, we should let him keep going," she said with a lopsided frown.
"Maybe he'll tell Ivy that," said Addison. She'd noticed Patrick had been receiving attention from both Amelie and Ivy ever since he and Amelie arrived. She hoped her boarders weren't going to engage in some sort of love triangle. That was the last thing she needed.
Addison was just about to return to the kitchen to get a beer for Jason, who was finishing up in the front garden, when a scream pierced the late-afternoon calm. It was Ivy, and it came from upstairs. The four of them on the verandah froze for a moment, before Dan led the way, charging inside and up the staircase. Adam was right behind him, with Addison and Amelie following. Addison could hear Jason's long strides closing in on her.
They all reached the closed door to Patrick's room, where Ivy was still screaming as she frantically turned the handle.
"It's locked!" she cried. "We need to get in there. Patrick…" Her face was pure white, and Addison was suddenly terrified.
"What's happened?" asked Dan. He gently moved his sister aside and tried the door as well.
"It's Patrick. You need to break it down!"
"Stand back," said Dan to the rest of the group. He raised a big, booted foot and kicked at the door. It flew open, and they all rushed in to see what Ivy was so frantic about.
Patrick's lifeless body hung from the wardrobe door.
2
Dan and Adam were the first to reach Patrick. They pulled the noose from his neck and got him on the ground. Dan felt for a pulse, but shook his head.