“You did great, Aurora,” Chief Brooks said. “You should be proud of yourself. Real proud.”
But Aurora didn’t feel proud. On the whole, she felt rather like she’d made a terrible mistake. And yet, Beppe had confessed. What else was there to do but lock him up? So why did she feel her insides roiling? Why did she feel a voice in her head saying that this was all wrong, that they’d given up too passively?
Even Philbert the ostrich was casting sad looks at the police car as it drove away with Beppe & James in the back seat. Aurora wondered what would happen to Philbert now. Who would take care of him? As if reading her mind, Philbert looked at her. Then, with a plaintive sqwauk and much head-bobbing, the bird began to walk to her.
“Not me. No way,” Aurora said. “I do not volunteer.”
The bird began running towards her. Immediately, Aurora lost her nerve and drove away as fast as she could. In the rearview mirror, she could see Philbert trying to catch up.
*****
Chapter 22
Another Round
It was late, nearly midnight, by the time Joy drove back into town. Her visit to the county jail had left her with more questions than she’d had before. But it had also given her a familiar thrill, a thrill she knew well as a journalist. The thrill of knowing you were on the right track. Chip’s death was somehow related to his talk with Trevor. She was confident of it. Now that she knew this, all she had to do was trace the thread all the way back to the end, no matter how much time and effort it took.
“Joy.” Cole gave her a broad smile as she walked into the bar. “What a pleasure to see you twice in one day. I might almost think it’s something other than the drinks drawing you here.” He gave her a warm smile.
“Actually, I was looking for Max. I was hoping he was still here.” Joy ignored the little frisson of pleasure that went down her spine at Cole’s flirting and knew she was missing out on an opportunity. But this really wasn’t the time.
“Max? You missed him. He left half an hour ago. He seemed pretty on edge today.”
“Well, I feel on edge, too.” Joy sat down at the bar. “I need a drink, actually. I’ve just driven all the way to Smackwell Jail and back. Can I have a beer?”
Cole gasped. “Smackwell? That’s quite a drive!”
“I had to speak to the warden,” Joy said. “I had to confirm for myself that Chip visited Trevor last Tuesday. It was one of the last things Chip did, as a matter of fact.”
“Huh?”
“Trevor Sullivan…oh, never mind. It’s a long story. I need to talk to Max, that’s what’s next,” Joy said. “Actually, come to think of it, I need an ear along with the beer, too.”
“Ears with beers are normally three dollars extra,” Cole said. “But, for you, the ear’s on the house.” He slid across a bottle of beer. Joy caught it and sipped it appreciatively. It was perfectly chilled, condensation gathering on the outside. Also, Cole was definitely flirting. At any other moment in time, Joy would have been over the moon. When this was all over, she was going to come back and take this to the next level.
“You know I’ve seen that look on your face before.” Cole grinned. “High school. I remember how you used to screw up your face like that when trying to understand a math problem.”
“You remember me from high school?” Max could wait five minutes longer. Joy had had a long and tiring day, and five minutes of flirting was exactly what she needed right now.
“Sure I do.”
“I never thought you even noticed me.” Joy smiled.
“Well, I’d have to be blind not to notice you.” Cole had such beautiful eyes. What shade were they? Joy felt a little hypnotized just looking at him. Her heart was thumping and her head was spinning.
“What was it you were saying about Chip visiting Trevor?”
“Aurora, my roommate, is Trevor’s daughter,” Joy said. “Chip visited Trevor right before he died. Now, the only thing that the warden was willing to tell me, was that Trevor handed Chip a letter. A letter! Cole, if I get my hands on that letter, I’ll probably solve the whole mystery!”
“You really think it’s that important?”
“Yes! I think that Chip got something out of Trevor, something Aurora didn’t want anyone knowing. So she killed him. Sadly, the warden was a tough nut to crack. He wouldn’t tell me anything else of value. He wouldn’t even let me see the video tapes of Chip meeting with Trevor. He only confirmed that a meeting had occurred between the two men. He cited privacy laws and told me I’d need a warrant if I wanted to know anything more. So I need to come up with a plan now.”
“You think it’ll help prove Aurora killed Chip?”
“I’m sure of it. I mean, it’s all too coincidental, isn’t it?” Joy said. “Even the fact that Aurora finagled her way into a job with Max after Chip died is suspicious. She’s searching for something in Chip’s files, probably that letter from Trevor, and what better way to do it than get hired as secretary?”
“But why kill Chip?”
“At first, I thought she wanted to kill my fam—” Joy bit her lip. Had Aurora wanted to murder Chip, or Joy’s father? Both theories fit, but now Joy thought that Aurora had targeted Chip. She was too systematic to make a mistake like go into the wrong house.
“I need to see Max,” Joy said. “There’s a piece of the story I’m missing, and I’m going to put it all together. You just wait and see.”
“I believe you,” Cole said. “I think the only one in town smart enough to put it all together is probably you.”
“Thanks.” Joy felt suddenly drained and tired. It had been a really long day. Maybe the beer had been a mistake - she should have gone to Max first instead of wasting time flirting with Cole. Still, it felt so good to have a handsome face like his listen to her problems and empathize. She finished her beer in one long gulp. Unsteadily, she got up. Time to get to work.
“Max,” she said. “I have to go see Max.”
*****
Chapter 23
The Unexpected Tale
Back home, Aurora flicked the lights on. The house was still empty - no sign of Joy. No doubt she would soon come barrelling in, furious to have heard about her uncle and father being arrested. When the Ricci family finds out what she’d done, they were all sure to hate her.
Aurora felt more lonely than ever. Was there any point in staying in Bent River now? She had no relatives left, aside from the jailbird father whom she’d never met, and half the town would probably hate her by sunup. The best thing to do, she figured, would be to pack up her suitcase and leave.
She switched on every light on the first floor so she could clearly see every move Joy made upon arrival, just in case she got physical, and plopped on the sofa. Something dug into her back. With an irritated sigh, she reached behind her and searched for the culprit: the cork from a bottle in the vertical crack between two cushions. She shook her head at Joy’s slovenly ways.
The entire living room was a mess. Every bit of it. And she had thought it couldn’t get any worse before Joy’s family get-together. Aurora hated it. She hated Joy, too, for ruining everything.
No, she couldn’t live here. Not anymore. Only…only she didn’t want to give up. She loved this new little town she had just begun thinking of as home.
She loved how everyone knew everyone. She loved that people genuinely cared about their families and friends. She loved how she was surrounded by greenery and had a house with an actual backyard. She especially loved the quiet - when Joy’s family wasn’t around, that is. But she even loved the chaos that followed that crew wherever they went.
But Joy was trying to ruin all of that for her.
No, she wasn’t going to let her. This was her house, too. Her home. And Joy was not taking that away from her. Somehow, someway, she was going to stay and build a life here.
Rising up with new energy, Aurora attacked the cluttered wreck that was the living room. With a swoop, she dumped clothes on one side, paper on the other. Joy w
as terrible with mail. Aurora found unopened letters and old magazines from years gone by on every flat surface and under every piece of furniture. With a gasp, Aurora stopped and stared.
One of the letters was addressed to her. The return address said Smackwell County Jail. Smackwell…where had she heard that name before? Aurora racked her brain and then suddenly remembered: she’d seen it in Henrietta’s calendar. It had been one of the last entries.
Trevor Smackwell, 11am Tuesday.
At the time, she’d skimmed right over it because she’d been so excited to solve the mystery of Henrietta’s absurd filing system. She had just mentally filed “Trevor Smackwell” as the name of an unknown man. But now…now that she was looking at it, it all became obvious. Trevor was Trevor Sullivan, Smackwell was the location of the meeting and 11am Tuesday was clear enough. Chip had met her father, Trevor, at Smackwell jail just a few days before he died!
Aurora’s hands were shaking wildly as she held the letter. Trevor, her father, had written to Aurora. To his daughter. The letter had arrived and gotten lost in all the mess that was Joy’s house. Aurora didn’t know if she even wanted to read it. Part of her wished it had just stayed lost. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to know what was in it but, at the same time, she had to know.
So, gathering her courage, Aurora opened the letter.
To My Daughter, Aurora,
My name is Trevor Sullivan and I am your father.
Aurora felt her eyes well up. She wasn’t ready. She couldn’t face this. She couldn’t go on. But she had no choice.
I am your father and I have loved you since the day you were born. I am so very sorry that I have never been there for you. I was a selfish man, a cruel man, when I was young. Your mother kept me away from you - and rightfully so. I couldn’t be trusted. I didn’t deserve to be your father.
But long years in jail have changed that. Cancer has changed that. Yes, I have cancer and am dying. By the time you get this, I’ll probably be gone. I’m sorry for that, Aurora. I only hope that I’ll be a better father to you in death than I was in life.
I’m going to tell you things I never told anyone else before. But, to do that, I have to start at the beginning.
See, once upon a time, a spoiled young man named Trevor lived with a domineering father named Arthur and a kind, beautiful sister named Lauren. Since the beginning, I’ve been attracted to crime. Racing cars in the streets, gambling, setting fires, breaking and entering - you name it and I did it. Often, I didn’t even need the money, the thrill of it all just called out to me.
Well, unexpectedly, Lauren died in an accident. My father died soon after - some, including me, would say of a broken heart. After these tragedies, I descended into my darkest days. But somehow, during this most difficult time in my life, a light shone down on me…I met your mother. I hid my crimes from her because I fell in love with her and craved her love in return. But, when she discovered who I really was, she was horrified and, understandably, ran away from me. The law caught up to me soon after and I went away.
It wasn’t until years later that I discovered, quite by accident, that I had a daughter. But your mother was smart. She kept moving from place to place and I was never able to find you. I kept looking, always at it to this very day, but with no luck. Then, after all these years, I got news of my cancer and faced the fact that I’d soon be dead and would never meet you. It shattered my already-broken heart.
Then, one day, Ricardo Ricci died. Ricardo Ricci. I’d never even thought about the man for so many years. I discovered something, though. I discovered he’d left half of his house to you. YOU! Instantly, I knew who you were. I knew why Ricardo had done what he’d done. He left you half the house because he felt that he owed to our family. Somehow, perhaps through private investigators, he’d found you when I couldn’t.
Aurora, I do not say this lightly: that was the day I became a changed man. The thought that Ricardo had gone to the trouble of searching you out and making sure that you were taken care of, tore me apart in a way that nothing else ever could have. I have never felt so wracked with guilt.
You see, it’s my fault. All of it.
I told you I was a criminal as a young man. But my father was rich and well-respected and so I always got out of trouble. Then, one day, Chip Goggins found evidence of a crime that would have put me behind bars, even with my father’s money and influence. So he used it to blackmail my father. Chip didn’t want money, he had plenty of it. Chip wanted Lauren. He was desperately in love with her. So he made a bargain with my father: Lauren’s hand in marriage in exchange for his silence. My father, ready and willing to give everything up for me, explained the situation to Lauren and forced her to break up with her boyfriend and true love, Beppe Ricci, and get engaged to Chip instead.
But I found out that Lauren planned to meet Beppe in secret, supposedly for one last time. But I knew what would happen. Lauren would protest at first, and then allow herself to be convinced by Beppe. She would run away with Beppe and let me go to jail. I couldn’t allow that to happen. So I did what every cowardly criminal does: I frayed the lining of her brakes. Just enough to make the inevitable crash look accidental. I killed her, Aurora, as surely as if I’d pressed a gun to her head and pulled the trigger. I figured that, if she lived, Chip might be vengeful. But if she died, a brokenhearted Chip would leave me alone. At least, that’s what I hoped. And I was right - Chip did leave me alone.
But what I didn’t count on was that Beppe would survive. And, because I never considered that, I couldn’t have predicted that Ricardo Ricci would love his son enough to try and cover up Lauren’s death. And I certainly never would have expected that Beppe would think he was responsible and confess to my father.
Well, my father knew instantly that I’d been behind it all. And he knew that, being a high profile person in the town, if Lauren’s death got publicized and the police felt excess pressure to solve the case, they may figure out the truth. So, he asked Beppe not to confess to them and hoped it would be ruled an unfortunate accident, without too much digging. He also used his power to influence the police, encouraging them to wrap it up quickly so my sister could rest and we could grieve. And, being a small town with police who had probably never even worked a murder case before, that is what happened. I suppose my father loved me as much as Beppe’s loved him and couldn’t stand to see me go to prison, even if I murdered his beloved daughter. But he suffered for his sins - he died soon after, brokenhearted over my sister’s death and guilt-ridden over his murderous son. Aurora, believe me when I say that I hold myself responsible for both deaths. It was after they were both dead and buried that my decent began. Your mother rescued me from that for a short time, but I still cherish what we had. Unfortunately, once she left me, I pushed everything to the limit and, without my father to get me out of my jams, I was in and out of jail for years. Until the last time…now I’m never getting out.
As for Ricardo and Beppe, well, they continued to think they were at fault. They never even suspected me. In fact, I believe Ricardo kept a tab on me all these years, feeling he owed me for my sister’s death. That makes me feel terrible now, but back then it barely weighed on my mind. Somehow, he found out that I was searching for you and, noble man that he was, he hunted you out himself and made sure that, on his passing, you’d get half his house. In this way, I think, he was trying to somewhat repay the debt he thought he owed our family. He wasn’t a rich man and had a large family of his own, so you can appreciate the importance of that decision.
Perhaps now you understand why this news broke me like nothing else did. I’d already had years to think of my crimes and repent. I couldn’t believe the kindness and love that man had in him. All I knew is that I had to confess, after all these years.
Your mother named you “Aurora Sparks” but you’re a Sullivan by blood. I’m not much of a father and you’ll never know me but please believe that there was good in our family. Your aunt was a kind, passionate young lady and, despite
his flaws, your grandfather was a good man. I pray that you’ll find peace and happiness in your life, Aurora, and that you’ll follow your mother’s path instead of mine. I don’t know what that path was since we parted but I am confident it was a righteous one.
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