*****
“Dr. Cleary, my name is Detective Dylan Roth, I’m investigating the death of Beatrice Danforth. I understand you are treating the gentleman who was found near the dead woman’s body.”
“Yes, Detective. Mr. Jasper Cummings is my patient, he is in no condition to talk to you. He’s been given a sedative and will sleep for several hours.”
“Were you able to speak to him at all?”
“Yes, he was distraught, he called for a Mr. Alec and said it wasn’t an accident. I prescribed the sedative for his own safety. The man is in his eighties and frail. That’s all I can tell you he regained consciousness for only a short time.”
“I’d like to speak to him when you feel he is well enough to answer my questions.”
“Detective, I’m new in the area and am not familiar with the Danforth family. I understand Mr. Cummings works for them as a butler. Is the Alec he’s asking for a Danforth also?”
“Yes, he and his sister were the only remaining Danforths until her death.”
*****
“Mr. Danforth, my name is Doctor Preston, may I call you Alec?”
“I guess, where is Beatrice?”
“Alec, Beatrice is dead, do you remember holding her before the paramedics arrived at your apartment in Evergreen?”
“I was mad at her but I didn’t want her to die. It’s my fault she’s dead, isn’t it?”
“Did you cause her to fall down the stairs?”
“I must have, I didn’t want to see her I told her to go away. I killed my mother and father, you know, and now, I’ve killed my sister.”
“How did you kill your parents, Alec?”
“I left a kerosene lamp by the water heater and the cabin exploded with them inside.”
“Did you leave the lamp by the water heater on purpose?”
“I remember nothing about that stupid lamp except what Beatrice said happened. Mama told me not to touch the lamp because I might burn my fingers and I always listened to what Mama and Papa told me. Beatrice said I was naughty and I killed them.”
Alec shook his head as though coming out of a spell. “I’m sorry, doctor, you were asking about Beatrice. I was angry at Beatrice for keeping Laura and me apart for so many years. Beatrice came to my gallery and wanted me to come home with her to that dreary mansion. In the last few weeks, I have felt like a new person, I stopped taking the vitamin pills she insisted upon. I wonder if they weren’t vitamins.
“I told her I didn’t want to see her and opened the door for her to leave. Instead she followed me up the stairs to my apartment. I locked the door and turned on loud music to drown her out. When I got out of the shower and dressed, I didn’t hear her voice and thought she’d gone home. When I turned the music down, I heard a commotion in the hallway. I opened the door and saw Beatrice at the bottom of the stairs. I knew she was dead and knew it was my fault. If only I hadn’t shut her out.”
“Alec, the coroner reported finding what appears to be fingernail scratches on your sister’s mouth as though someone was attempting to silence her. Do you know how that could have happened?”
“I never touched her, doctor. I was angry with her but would never hurt her, she’s my sister.”
“I’ll let you rest, Alec. Would you like me to prescribe something to relax you?”
“No, I don’t like taking pills. I don’t have my cell phone, can you ask them to get it for me, I have to call Laura to tell her I will be late.”
“Laura Abbott is in the waiting room along with Mr. Fisher and two of your friends. I’ll talk to Detective Roth about letting her visit with you.”
******
“Detective, Mr. Danforth appears lucid. When I first approached him, he seemed to relive his parents’ death some forty years ago. My guess is his sister, Beatrice, amplified the guilt he felt over the incident. I question whether he was at fault, intentionally or accidently. He has asked to see his friend, Laura. I told him I’d ask you for permission.”
“Doc, are you saying Alec Danforth didn’t cause his sister’s fall?”
“I can’t be certain, but I believe him. I can’t explain the fingernail marks on the victim’s mouth.”
“The only other person in that stairway was the eighty-year-old butler. What motive could he have for attempting to harm his boss?”
*****
Dylan Roth trusted the doctor’s instincts. He didn’t feel he had enough evidence in the case to warrant the arrest of Alec Danforth.
“Mr. Danforth, Dr. Preston tells me you are well enough to be released. I would like to see you at police headquarters first thing tomorrow morning regarding your sister’s death.”
“I’ll be there Detective. I want to find out what caused Beatrice’s fall. If I am responsible, I will accept my punishment.”
Dylan didn’t know what to think of this strange man. Joanna had mixed feelings about him. She went from admiring him to fearing him and then liking him as a person. He wondered if he should caution Mr. Danforth that talking with his lawyer before meeting at the police station would be a sensible thing to do.
*****
“Alec, I’m so happy you are all right,” said Laura as she was led to his room by a volunteer. “I’m sorry about your sister, they don’t think you had anything to do with her falling down the stairs, do they?”
“Maybe I pushed her, I don’t think I did but sometimes I forget things that happen. I’m sorry I’m late for our dinner with Mr. Fisher. I wanted to get to know him better.”
“The nurse said you are being released, if you up to it, we could have dinner at the inn. I know you are mourning your sister but you have to eat.”
“I should be mourning Beatrice but it doesn’t seem real she is dead. Yes, I would like to have dinner at the inn.”
******
“Mr. Danforth, the nurse said when she walked into his room. I have discharge papers for you to sign before you leave us. I had a call from the emergency department in the hospital, a Jasper Cummings is asking to see you.”
“What’s wrong with me, Jasper was in the stairway too? Is he badly hurt? Laura, may we stop by to see him? He must be worried about the hospital bills; I’d like to reassure him they will be paid.”
“He will be kept for observation this evening, it’s only a precaution because of his age. He asked for a policeman too. He wants to talk about the accident today.”
“He must have seen what happened; I will be glad if he can clear up questions I have about my part in Beatrice’s death.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Alec and Laura walked hand in hand to the waiting room where Nelson, Molly, and Joanna were waiting. Nelson’s eyes teared, and he took his glasses off to wipe them dry.
It was the first time Molly had seen the two men together and saw their resemblance immediately.
“How are you feeling, son?” Nelson asked as he grasped his arm reassuringly. “I’m sorry about your sister.”
“Thank you, sir, I’m still in shock that Beatrice is dead. Our butler, Jasper Cummings wants to talk to me. He saw what happened and I need to hear what he says. I’d like it if you would all come with me. Joanna, you, and Molly are the reason Laura came back and Mr. Fisher is the one who brought her to Evergreen. You folks are the closest thing to a family I have.”
Nelson felt his heart skip a beat. He wanted to embrace this man he was certain was his son.
******
Jasper waited impatiently for Mr. Alec to arrive. He refused to allow the nurse to come near him for fear she would give him more medication to make him sleep.
“Mr. Alec, thank heaven they let you go. Where Is the policeman, I need him to know what happened?”
“Mr. Cummings,” said Dylan, “I’m Detective Roth. With your permission, I will record your statement as an eyewitness.”
“Young man, I’m not an eye witness, I’m the Miss Beatrice is dead.”
“Jasper,” cried Alec, “don’t say another word, I’ll call the family la
wyer. I want you to talk to him before you speak about the accident.”
“No, there have been too many secrets in this family already,” he continued with his accounting of the incident.
“I knew Miss Beatrice was upset about Mr. Alec leaving the mansion. I often accompanied her when she ventured off the property of the Danforth Estate. Her mental state was fragile this afternoon when she instructed Robert to drive her to Evergreen and Mr. Alec’s gallery. She didn’t realize I sat in the passenger seat in the limousine.
“Robert drove to the gallery and opened the door for Miss Beatrice. Her pace was steady as she walked toward the door and opened it. I could see Mr. Alec through the window and saw he was shaking his head as though telling her he wasn’t leaving with her.
“They disappeared and the next I saw; Mr. Alec was opening the side door I guessed led to his apartment on the second floor.
“I could hear loud music playing. I’d never heard Mr. Alec play music in that way before and worried. It seemed Miss Beatrice had been there for an eternity and I had a bad feeling about what was happening.
“Before I go on, I must tell you how much Miss Beatrice’s parents meant to me. I first met Miss Harriet at the homeless shelter in Hillsboro. I was sixteen-years-old and had no one in the world who cared for me. Miss Harriet invited me to live with her family in Danforth mansion. She and Mr. Wilbur showed me more kindness than I could ever repay and I loved them and their little Miss Beatrice.
“I knew there was trouble when Miss Beatrice was a teenager. She and Miss Harriet left Danforth mansion and traveled to Europe for several months. Shortly after they returned, you, Mr. Alec, were with them. Miss Harriet said you had been born while she was in Europe. Mr. Wilbur said how happy he was to have a son. It seemed strange, but I never pried and had no reason to doubt your parents.
“Shortly before your parents died in the explosion in the cabin, Miss Beatrice and Miss Harriet had a terrible row. Miss Harriet insisted you be enrolled in a preparatory school several miles away from Danforth estate. Miss Beatrice stomped around the house for days.
“Mr. Wilbur thought it would be a good idea to visit the cabin until Beatrice calmed down. I shopped for food they could prepare without the help of cook. It was a family outing and the servants would stay behind and give the mansion a thorough cleaning while the family was vacationing.
“As you know, the explosion happened the next day and Miss Harriet and Mr. Wilbur were gone.”
Laura put her arm around Alec’s waist knowing he remembered that horrible day.
“You have to understand,” continued Jasper, “I never doubted the explosion was anything more than an accident. Through the years, Miss Beatrice reminded Master Alec he’d carelessly left a kerosene lamp close to the water heater. It wasn’t right that she continued to remind him of his part in his parents’ death but it was not my place to say.
“I was loyal to Miss Beatrice and Master Alec through the years. Miss Beatrice was nothing like her parents, she was mean and spiteful to the servants but I felt an obligation to my benefactors to be faithful to their children. Although Master Alec was troubled, he was an endearing child and would have benefitted from Mr. Wilbur’s guiding hand through the years.”
“What did you see when you entered to building today, Mr. Cummings,” asked Dylan.
“I’m sorry, young man, I know I’m prattling on, but the background will make the events of the past fall into place.
“I opened the door to the stairway, I could hear loud music but Miss Beatrice’s voice was louder. She confessed to killing her mother and father and said she’d done it so her own child wouldn’t be sent away to boarding school.
“I couldn’t believe my ears, although it made sense, that Beatrice was the reason for the explosion. When Master Alec was a toddler, he put his hand over a lit candle and burned his hand. He still has the scar from that time.”
Alec opened his hand and there was a faint scar on his palm.
“After that, Alec wouldn’t go near a fire. Miss Harriet tried to coax him to toast marshmallows over an open flame in the backyard and he would run the other way.”
“Jasper is right, I don’t like fire but I thought it was because I saw the flames from the explosion of the cabin when my mama and papa died.”
“When I heard Miss Beatrice call out you were her child, I knew I had to stop her. I ran up the stairs and tried to stop her from saying any more. I covered her mouth with my hand. She bit me before she lost her footing and fell down the stairs. I grabbed the handrail and that kept me from tumbling after her. I called her name, and ran down to where she was. I knew she was dead and it was my fault. I started toward the door to get help and that’s all I remember until I woke up in this bed.”
“Jasper, are you telling me my sister is, in fact, my mother> Beatrice never had a boyfriend as far as I know. Who is my father?” he asked looking directly at Nelson.
“Son,” said Nelson, “I believe I could be your biological father.”
Alec’s head was spinning, what he’d heard was impossible to comprehend. All these years Beatrice had him believe his carelessness caused his parents’ death. The woman was mad, and she did her best to drive him to insanity too.
“Mr. Fisher, did Beatrice drug you, causing your near accident?”
“I don’t know Alec, but I suspect she put something in the tea she served.”
“Alec,” said Laura, “I’ll call Robert to take you home to your apartment. You’ve had a lot to absorb today, I’ll sit with you if you’d like me to.”
“No, Laura, it’s time I faced what a mess my life has been. It will take time to understand why Beatrice did the things she did. I believe she used drugs to control me and because of my weaknesses, she succeeded. I want to know if Mr. Fisher is my father. Detective Roth, it’s clear Beatrice’s fall was accidental and Jasper is free to go, isn’t that correct?”
“I believe you are correct, Mr. Danforth and my report will reflect an accidental fall.”
Joanna smiled at Dylan, she loved his show of authority mixed with compassion for these two decent men.
“Alec,” said Molly, “Joanna and I will leave and allow you some time alone with Laura and Mr. Fisher.”
“Under the circumstances, please call me Nelson. Come, son, let’s find a doctor to run tests. I’ll stop by the gift shop to buy cigars to welcome my son.”
“They don’t sell cigars in the hospital gift shop, Pops.” Alec laughed.
Laura’s eyes filled with tears of happiness when she looked at Joanna and Molly mouthing the words, thank you.
Epilogue
Laura awoke with a start on an early September morning. It’s my wedding day, today I will become Mrs. Alec Danforth. Alex reluctantly agreed with the tradition Laura should stay at the Coventry Inn the night before their wedding. Their marriage ceremony would take place in the garden. The summer flowers were fading because of an early frost, they were replaced with pots of fall flowers thanks to Buds and Blooms Flower Emporium.
“There won’t be enough room for the guests to sit if you bring in any more flowers,” said Luke Sullivan while he helped Molly and her crew place the pots in the garden.
Jenny Cromwell and her placed satin bows on the white chairs where the guests would watch Alec and Laura recite their vows to love one another for as long as they both shall live. Greg Cromwell was in the kitchen busily preparing a feast fit for royalty.
“Is Laura still in bed?” asked Joanna. “She will miss her own wedding if she doesn’t get up soon.”
Laura opened her bedroom window and shouted, “I’ve waited too long for this day, you can bet I won’t be sleeping through it.”
Laura quickly showered and with her hair still damp, she threw on a pair of shorts and a tee-shirt and joined the others in the garden.
“It looks beautiful, you all have done a wonderful job. I can’t thank you enough for making everything perfect.”
“You can thank your fiancé,
he said not to spare any expense and Molly took him at his word. Isn’t it grand marrying a rich man?” Brooke laughed. The truth is, Brooke would marry Travis Kincaid again if he was a pauper.
“Where’s my soon to be sister-in-law?” said Emily Fisher. Through testing, it was confirmed that Nelson Fisher is Alec’s biological father. After the initial shock, Emily found she adored her big brother and loved Laura as a sister. Laura asked the girl to be a bridesmaid along with Joanna Garretson.
******
The wedding was lovely. The champagne flowed all afternoon, and the guests enjoyed a fantastic buffet. The happy couple escaped to their room at the inn as they were showered with confetti.
“Tomorrow will be soon enough to clean up, we were all up early this morning. We’ll meet here at eight o’clock, Greg will be happy to fix us breakfast, won’t you dear?” Jenny laughed.
“I’ll do the cooking while you folks do the cleaning,” Greg replied.
******
Lucy Kincaid was awake before the sun came up. She is six years old and thought it would be fun to go back to the inn to help the grown-ups in the beautiful garden.
“Lucy,” cried her mother, Brooke, “We aren’t meeting until eight o’clock, that’s two hours away, go back to sleep.”
It seemed an eternity to Lucy but her parents and little brother finally woke up. She could hear the shower running and knew it wouldn’t be too much longer before they would leave for the inn. Lucy loved standing at the edge of the hill and looking at the lake on one side and the town of Evergreen on the other.
Everyone gathered in the Coventry Inn restaurant where Greg had outdone himself again with breakfast. He loved cooking, and it was reflected with the presentation.
Lucy, who had made herself a bowl of cereal with two spoons of sugar while her family slept, wasn’t hungry and her mother told her she could go outside.
“Don’t get too close to the edge of the hill, Lucy.”
“I won’t, Mama.”
Molly held Lucy’s little brother, Ryan. She had been disappointed again this month when she hadn’t conceived. She thought it was ironic that her birth mother became pregnant with twins the first time she’d had sex.
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