Murder in March

by Camilla Chafer

  "He met Esther?"

  "She was on a business trip. Derrick's department wasn't doing too well and she was this big brain who was supposed to turn it around. She did all right. She turned everything including his head. She was older than him, with lots of money and the lifestyle to go with it. We were having a few problems. I was busy working. Derrick was working so hard and late all the time and Esther turned up with her flashy lifestyle, offering him everything we didn't yet have. He couldn't say no. No one could say no to Esther. I came to meet him early from work once, a couple of months after she arrived, and she laughed at me. She called me simple, and not very sweet. Derrick looked so guilty that I just knew... I knew."

  "He left you for her."

  "She convinced him to. She offered him everything I couldn't. He told me he loved me but not in that way anymore and said he was leaving me. One minute, he was there, the next, he was gone. Poof!"

  "I'm so sorry."

  "He abandoned me. I was pregnant. I'd just graduated and my boss made up a reason to lay me off as soon as he found out. I couldn't afford the apartment. I had nothing."

  "You didn't tell him about the baby?"

  "Why would I? He was leaving me for her!"

  "He might have stayed."

  Dina shook her head. "Or maybe he wouldn't. Maybe Esther would have decided since she already had my husband, she would have my baby too."

  "Did Esther know about the baby?"

  "No, but even if she had, she would have taken Derrick anyway. Babies were not her thing. She worked it out when she saw me here and she also saw Derry. Esther hadn't changed one bit except to get louder and more obnoxious. She laughed at me, said she'd never figure a sad loser like me could get anywhere but she supposed managing a rundown hotel in a hick town in the middle of nowhere was an accomplishment for me."

  "This is not a rundown hotel," I pointed out. "This hotel is beautiful. You regularly win awards."

  "That's what you're taking away from this?" Dina laughed as her jaw trembled. Tears pricked her eyes. "She worked out Derry was my daughter. She looks like him, you know. She has Derrick's eyes and his amicable personality."

  "You named your daughter after him? Derry for Derrick."

  Dina's jaw shook. "It was the only thing I could give her from him. He didn't leave me anything else."

  "Why did you kill Esther?"

  "I told her I wanted her to leave. That I wanted her out of my hotel and I said to never come back. She hurt me enough and she was upsetting my staff too. I didn't want her anywhere near Derry. I went to her room and told her she had to be out by the morning."

  "She refused?"

  "No, she said she thought it was a good idea. She couldn't wait to fly home and tell Derrick all about Derry. She said they could offer Derry all the things I couldn't. I told her to go concentrate on her own kids and leave my daughter alone but she said she never had any and she was glad because getting a grown one was so much easier." Dina shook her head. "She would have used Derry for whatever she could until she spat her out like she did everyone else. Derry would have just been her little trophy to parade around until she was bored of her. I couldn't let her hurt Derry."

  "So you killed her."

  "A knife through the heart, just like she did to me." Dina's hand with the gun trembled. I watched it, fearing it would go off.

  "And then you tried to frame me with my manuscript when you threw it through my window. You planted a sheet of it in Mark's room and tipped off the police."

  "It wasn't hard to find out why Esther was here and the real reason she was meeting you. She left all her notes lying around her room. When I saw her rejection on your manuscript that night, I knew the police would believe you'd finally flipped after working with her all those years. Or Mark did. It was a lucky coincidence."

  "Except Mark barely knew her," I told her. "And I was quitting already. Neither of us had any motive."

  "It doesn't matter now. If you'd just left things alone, I wouldn't have had to take care of that other guest."

  "The one who stole things? That was you who injured him in the parking lot?"

  "First a thief, then a killer. I told Detective Logan about Esther confronting him about the thefts. Just a little lie but enough to plant the seed. I know Mark got the hotel footage and so did the police so it proves that man was there in the stairwell. If he dies, so does this case."

  "Except for me," I said. "I know what happened."

  "Yeah. Except for you. I even tipped off the newspaper about you but here you are!"

  "What are you going to do with me?" I asked.

  "You? I don't want to do this. You seem like a nice person and your books are great but you don't leave me any choice. I have to protect my daughter! I'm going to have to kill... ugh!" Dina's eyes rolled back and her knees crumpled. She fell to the floor like a marionette whose handler just dropped her. The gun skittered out of her hands and across the floor. I looked up in disbelief from her collapsed body at the figure in the doorway. Janey held a baseball bat.

  "No one's killing you until you've signed my book," she said, grinning triumphantly. “I heard everything!”

  "I am so naming a character after you," I gasped, hurriedly stepping over Dina's inert body and throwing my arms around her. I had never been so grateful to see another person in my life than I was right then.

  "Just make sure my hero is a hottie," said Janey. "And I won't say no to a dedication either."

  "You got it!" I whispered as I hugged her even harder.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  "Thanks so much for coming," I said as I handed the book I'd just signed to a lovely, young woman holding a baby. She was the last in the queue at my very first book signing at Sparkes' Bookshop. She turned to her family, held up the book, and beamed. Along with her sister, mother, and grandmother, she had waited in line for two hours for me to autograph her book, the last of hundreds that day.

  Holly beamed at me and ushered the young woman over to the complimentary cupcakes she ordered for the occasion, each little cake topped with a miniature cover of one of my books. She enthusiastically decorated the whole store too, turning it into a romantic paradise with paper fans suspended from the ceiling, miniature bouquets of creamy white and pink roses dotted around every surface, and more copies of my books than I'd ever seen before. Mark supplied poster-sized covers of my books to hang around the store, along with complimentary postcards and bookmarks. There was seating for fifty balloted guests at my first ever reading before the store opened up for the occasion. Now the chairs had all been pushed back, most of the books and cupcakes were gone and I was pretty sure I caught someone sneaking out of the store with the giant poster for my latest book under one arm.

  I sat back in my chair and flexed my cramping fingers. Meeting readers, signing books, and taking selfies turned out to be more fun than I could have ever imagined. Exhausting fun, but great nevertheless. Ever since my "outing" in the Calendar Times more than two weeks ago, I'd been gradually getting used to all the attention. It was strange but not nearly as awful as I imagined. Actually, it was nice hearing how much my books meant to my loyal readers. And that my characters had helped get some of them through hospital treatment, divorces, rainy Sundays or kept them company during pregnancies, long trips, and other ordeals. It all meant much more to me than I could express.

  Just to add to the joy, my whole family turned up in support, and two nights ago, my friends, Cynthia, Rob and Tony, insisted on throwing me a "big reveal" dinner. Of course, they all knew before but they were glad the secret was finally out and enjoyed seeing all the fuss being made. Even Beth Boudreaux sent me a celebratory bouquet, personally delivered by her brother.

  "How's my favorite author?" asked Mark, walking over to me. He reached for my hands and with a little tug, pulled me onto my feet. He leaned down and kissed me and I heard a chorus of "oohs" bursting from the remaining crowd. Just to give them a little extra, I kicked up one foot in a coquettish pose to a smat
tering of applause.

  "I am on cloud nine," I told him when we broke apart. "This has been more fun than I could ever expect and I'm very glad you came back to see it."

  "How could I stay away? I got on the first plane I could catch. Although I'm not sure you'll still say it's fun after we finish this tour."

  "I still don’t know how you managed to persuade me to say yes to a twenty-stop tour as well as all those appearances on TV shows."

  "You drove a hard bargain by insisting we start here," he said, waving his hand around the bookstore.

  "And you put the icing on the cake by suggesting we spend the six months afterward traveling." I kissed him again, feeling utterly delighted. Finally, my travel magazines and Mark's guidebooks would be put to good use. Even better, we were really together and eager to explore our fledgling relationship in some beautiful locations.

  "I can't thank you enough," said Holly, coming over to me and taking my hands in hers. "I have to steal her away," she told Mark before spinning me around in a happy dance. "You know, you've put this bookstore on the map, thanks to holding that press conference here. And doing your very first signing here means we get a mention in every national newspaper and on television too! I don't know what to say."

  "Don't say anything. This bookshop has brought me so much joy over the years that this is simply my way of giving back. Plus, this is what friends do," I added. Like Janey, Holly was less mad about being kept in the dark, and more thrilled. It was great to have two new supportive friends.

  "I feel I should give you an honorary key to the bookstore or something."

  "Just invite me back when I publish my thriller." Even saying it out loud was exciting. Mark read the thriller manuscript in one sitting and not only did he thoroughly disagree with everything Esther said but he also insisted on signing me up for a two-book deal to be published under my own name. Somehow, I thought all the recent publicity I brought his publishing house had something to do with their decision to take a chance on a new direction for me.

  "You bet. And you're really not writing another romance?"

  "Miranda Marchmont has one novel left to write and then she is retiring for a while. Maybe not forever but definitely long enough to give Ava March a chance to make her name known," I said.

  "Ava, you're going to do great. I just feel it. I better get to tidying up," Holly said, beaming at me again. The door opened and Holly walked over to greet the person who walked inside. "Make sure you try the cake," she called over her shoulder.

  "You know I'm not even unhappy that I still have all those rewrites to do and another romance to pen," I told Mark as I drew him away from the signing table. "I feel like I've been given a big boost. Rejuvenated!"

  "We're all very excited to see what you do next. The media refers to you as a real-life sleuth, and all the gossipy things coming out about Esther's life just make for great press too."

  "I still feel bad for Esther. No matter how horrible she was, no one deserved to die like that. I empathize with Dina too. Esther just couldn't resist poking her again, even after everything else that she did. She could have left the hotel gracefully but instead, she had to taunt her. And," I reminded him, "Janey turned out to be the true hero. Who knows what Dina would have done to keep me quiet if Janey hadn't knocked her out with a baseball bat when she did?"

  "Esther didn't really steal Derrick. You can't steal someone, even if the press is stuck on reporting that. He had his own will," pointed out Mark. "Women always get the bad press, except for you and Janey. You two are the town heroes!"

  "It's a shame so many lives had to be ruined for us to earn that accolade."

  I waved to Detective Logan as he stepped inside and he came over, edging between groups of women still lingering in the store and spilling out onto the sidewalk. A few heads turned, watching his broad frame retreating in the leather jacket. Oblivious to their stares, he hugged me, then shook Mark's hand. "This is quite the event," he said. "Well done."

  "It's like I'm living a whole different life now," I told him. "I keep pinching myself, wondering when I'm going to wake up."

  "Do you want a book signed, Detective?" teased Mark.

  "Hmmm, I might have to call in some favors for my relatives one of these days. You are definitely the talk of the town. People keep asking me if you intend to join me for a few ride-alongs to research your next book and if I'm that detective in one of your older books."

  "I can assure you that you aren't and set the record straight if you like?"

  Detective Logan grinned and laughed. "It is not doing any harm to keep people guessing." He took a deep breath and his face grew serious. "I wanted to check in on you after Dina Preston's arraignment but I think you're holding up just fine."

  "I'm okay. And glad this is all over."

  "What happens now to Dina?" asked Mark.

  "She pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished capacity. The judge seemed okay with that especially since there's no proof it was pre-meditated. Dina claims she didn't bring the knife with her but grabbed it on the spur of the moment from a nearby cart when Esther threatened her. I'm not sure how she's going to explain planting evidence or attacking that other guest, much less, threatening you, but I expect her lawyer will come up with something."

  "How is the guest?"

  "He's fine. Doesn't remember a thing. Not even who attacked him."

  "Will Dina go to jail?" I asked.

  "Most likely, but she'll be out in a few years. She's got plenty of good character references and a lot of people will attest to all the good she's done. It appears this was a momentary, but very bad, lapse in judgment. There's plenty more, however, that throw shade on Esther's character. I doubt Dina will come back to Calendar when she does finally get parole or released for good behavior. It's the best we can hope for."

  “Did you ever find my missing manuscript?” I wondered.

  Detective Logan shook his head. “She probably shredded it.”

  "I feel a little sorry for Dina," I said. "Perhaps it is unwarranted, Detective."

  "You've always had a kind heart, Ava, and how many times do I have to ask you to call me Sam?" said Detective Logan. "You sticking around, Mark?"

  "Kind of," he said. "Ava and I are working together for a while so I expect I'll see you around until we go on tour."

  "Always nice to have another friendly face in town. Take care, both of you." Sam waved as he stepped back and I watched Holly taking a good, long look at him as he walked away. She turned, saw me watching, and gave me a giggly smile as she mouthed "He's so cute!"

  "Make sure none of those signs litter the sidewalk," called Sam as he opened the door and stepped out.

  "And a little grumpy," Holly muttered. Mark and I laughed.

  "Ms. March." A young woman approached us. I was prepared to tell her I would be happy to sign any book she had, then I realized she wasn't holding one and I knew her. Her hair had bounced back into big, glossy curls and now that I looked at her with that recognition, I saw so much of Derrick in her.

  "Derry," I said, surprised at her appearance. I didn't expect Dina's daughter to turn up at my book signing, and it was obvious she wasn't there for my alter ego.

  "I wanted to come sooner but I wasn't sure you would want to see me after what my mom did," she said awkwardly.

  "I'm so sorry about what happened," I told her, drawing her away from the lingering readers. "I don't think less of you in any way. That had nothing to do with you."

  "It had everything to do with me," said Derry. "My mom explained what Esther said about taking me away from my mom, but the truth is: that wouldn't have happened. I already knew my father. Derrick. I've known him for three years."

  "What?" I gasped, chancing a glance at Mark. He looked as surprised as I was. "I don't understand. How?"

  "I found my parents' divorce certificate and a few other things, along with my birthdate, and I put it all together and deduced that Derrick was my father. I didn't tell my mom
that I searched for him online or contacted him three years ago. He was upset at first that he never knew about me and then he was overjoyed. He wanted to get in touch with my mom to apologize and try to make reparations but I didn't let him. I didn't want her to be hurt again. I failed to realize, however, that she never got over what he did to her."

  "Did Esther know about you?" I wondered if that was why Esther taunted Dina so cruelly. Did she know who Derry was the moment she arrived at the hotel? No, she couldn't have. I recommended the hotel and her assistant made the reservations.

  "No. Derrick didn't tell her anything. I was a bit upset at first because I thought he was hiding me, then he made me understand that he was protecting me from her. He told me he stopped loving Esther a long time ago but stayed with her out of a sense of duty. He felt so bad for leaving my mom that he thought he should stay married to Esther to justify all that hurt in some warped way."

  "I'm so sorry, Derry."

  "Me too. If I’d told my mom I knew everything, this might never have happened. I don't know what will happen to my mom now but Derrick says he'll help however he can. He retained a lawyer for her already and if my mom doesn't come home, I'm going to stay with him. Or he can come here until I go to school. We plan to meet next week for the first time." Derry smiled sadly.

  "I've known Derrick for a long time and he's a very nice man," I told her. "I think you'll like him and I'm sure he'll do everything he can to help you and make up for his absence in your life. He doesn't blame you for any of this and you shouldn't either. Although I'm sure a lot of your parents' history must have come as a shock, you've reacted incredibly well and so grown-up."

  "Thanks. I hope my father and I can have a good relationship, and again, I'm so sorry you got dragged into this. My mom isn't a horrible woman but she hasn't had an easy life and Esther was, well, you know, just so mean. She always had to hurt Mom just a little bit more. I think my mom just snapped."