Ashley noticed Sean staring at her with a worried look on his face.
April jumped up from the table and headed to the kitchen. “I’ll make you some tea,” she said to her daughter.
“I’ll bet a piece of pie would make you feel better,” Burt said.
“Not really, Dad, but thanks.”
Ashley walked into the living room and lay on the couch. As soon as they finished dinner, she was going to tell them the news about being on the case with Detective Jackson.
***
A few minutes later, everyone finally filed into the living room.
Burt was rubbing his tummy. “I had to wait five years for some of that pie. That’s why I ate two slices.”
“Great pie,” Sean said. “It will be a hit at the bakery.”
April dashed in with the tea. “Oh, thank you. Thank you. I’m so happy you like it.” She scolded her husband. “And dear, you shouldn’t have eaten two pieces.”
“That’s your fault. The pie was too good, and the wait was too long,” Burt replied.
April handed the tea to Ashley. “I’m going to get a thermometer and bring some aspirin just in case.”
Ashley stopped her. “Mom, you don’t need to. I don’t feel well, but it’s not physical. Sit down. I have something to tell all of you.”
They all looked at her. She decided to sit up.
“Listen, I know you’re not going to like this. I’ve decided to help out Detective Jackson to solve that murder on the cold case,” Ashley said.
“What cold case?” Burt asked.
April had a different reaction. “Who is Detective Jackson?”
Another question came to Sean’s mind. “Does Thompson know about this?”
Ashley felt overwhelmed. Her family’s questions were all coming at once.
“Detective Josh Jackson. He’s a new detective in town working on solving a crime. And, yes, Nate Thompson does know about Jackson,” Ashley said. She looked at Sean pleadingly then continued. “And Mom, Dad, the case I’m helping with is the Melissa Anderson murder from twenty-five years ago.”
Burt got up and paced the room. “Why? The trial is over. Her husband or whoever else did it is gone. Case closed. Why dig it up?”
“And what about the family of Melissa Anderson? How would you feel if all these years my murderer got off scot-free?” Ashley asked.
“Ashley, you’re not murdered, and your dad is right. It was a tragedy, but why dig it up again? It’s over. It will only bring out terrible things,” April said.
April got up and paced with Burt.
Sean piled on. “Not to mention it’s highly dangerous. And you just promised me and Detective Thompson that you wouldn’t get involved this time.”
Sean stood with his arms crossed. He glared at Ashley.
Ashley let out a deep breath. She faced her parents. “I think the real reason you don’t want me to get involved is because of Uncle George.”
April gasped and grabbed Burt’s arm.
Burt stood there with his mouth agape. Then he spoke calmly and slowly. His voice was barely above a whisper. “I don’t know what you’ve heard, but your uncle was completely cleared of any involvement in that case and actually helped the police during the investigation.”
“And he felt awful for years just based on the false accusations,” April said. “It wasn’t fair! All because a witness thought she saw him hanging out near Melissa Anderson’s house late that night.”
April started to cry.
“Mom, please don’t cry. Detective Jackson actually told me that Uncle George was cleared of everything. It’s just that I was in shock to hear about it from him. And he didn’t fill me in on any other details about Uncle George. So I don’t know what really happened. Why haven’t you told me this before?”
Burt cleared his throat. “Well, at first you were too young and wouldn’t have understood. Then time just went by, and I guess we forgot to bring it up. And as you know, your uncle hasn’t been in the best of shape these past few years. His last heart operation a few years ago took a lot out of him. He and I both have that weak heart.”
“And just recently, your father and I were talking after you found the newspapers in the attic, and discussed whether or not we should tell you. But you expressed so much interest in the case and asked so many questions, I got worried that if we told you and you wanted to speak with your uncle, that it might upset him too much,” April said.
Burt smiled weakly at his daughter. “It’s our fault. We shouldn’t have kept you in the dark this long. It’s just that we were worried about how you’d react. And how it would affect him if he knew that you knew. He’s always been your favorite uncle.”
Sean chimed in. “The court of public opinion is pretty awful, Ash. Sounds like your uncle had it rough, even after he was exonerated.”
Ashley looked at their sorrowful faces. She thought about how her uncle always made her laugh. How kind he was to her. How much she admired both him and her father for serving their country in the war then working hard when they got back to take care of their families.
She also remembered that over the years she had sometimes seen him drink too much. He would usually sit in a chair with some music on, and she would see tears roll down his face. On one such occasion, Ashley had asked him what was wrong. She hadn’t forgotten his answer.
“Nothing. Just thinking about life. Some things are just an awful shame,” her uncle had said. “Awful shame.”
Afterwards, Ashley went over and hugged her uncle.
Her uncle then assured her that he would get over his sadness, but she wasn’t sure that he would.
As that memory rushed into Ashley’s brain, she drifted off.
“Ashley? Ashley?” April said.
Ashley snapped to attention. She looked up at her parents and Sean and realized they were waiting for an answer.
“Sorry. I was thinking of Uncle George. That reminds me, I noticed when I went through the newspaper articles in the attic that some were missing. Were those the clippings with Uncle George in them?” Ashley asked.
April nodded and teared up again.
“Do you want to hear the whole story?” Burt asked.
“Yeah, I would. It’s time I knew,” Ashley answered.
“Okay,” Burt said softly.
Chapter Nineteen
They all sat down again, and Ashley’s father began to explain how his brother had been over at Melissa Anderson’s house the day before she was found murdered.
“They had met at a dance class years before George had gotten married. Through the dance class, George and Melissa had become friends. George loved dancing with Melissa. They used to go out and have coffee after class and laugh about their perceived awkwardness on the dance floor. George had recently started dating his future wife, Sandy, and confided in Melissa about her. He said he wanted to learn how to dance so he could impress Sandy when they went out. Melissa in turn told George about her husband, Robert, and the problems they were having. Mellissa said she took dance lessons to get away from him. They shared a lot of their anxieties and dreams. One day, George confessed that he never wanted children. Surprisingly, Melissa shared that sentiment,” Burt said.
Ashley listened with rapt attention.
Burt continued. “Over the years, Melissa and George developed a bond and called each other frequently to ask for advice. Melissa’s husband strongly objected to their friendship. Robert frequently got jealous and used to accuse his wife of having an affair with George. According to George, it wasn’t anything more than a friendship.”
Burt got a faraway look in his eyes as a memory entered his mind. “You know, I got mad at George once and said he was looking for trouble, having such a close friendship with Melissa, but my brother convinced me he was happy just being friends with her. Our mother died when we were young, and we had never had a sister, so I guess Melissa was a sister substitute for him.”
April squeezed Burt’s arm. “And Geor
ge loved is wife, Sandy, so much. After she and George got married, Sandy became friends with Melissa, too. The only person who wasn’t on board with the friendship was Robert Anderson. He was such a control freak, and eventually, he wouldn’t let Melissa see George.”
Burt took a deep breath and continued. “The day Melissa Anderson got murdered, she called George and said it was urgent that he see her. He went over to her house in the afternoon and listened to her for a long time. She told him how abusive Robert was. He urged her to leave or call the police. He called Sandy from the Anderson house and asked if he could bring Melissa back with him to stay the night. But Melissa said no. She was going to talk to Robert and try one last time to work it out. She insisted that she would give her husband an ultimatum that they go into therapy or separate. George argued with her and said she wasn’t safe at the house, and even called us and asked me to try and convince her.”
“And we told her the same thing that George did. That our place was open for her, too,” April said.
“Why didn’t she at least go home to her parents?” Ashley said.
“She said they had started to dislike Robert and were always upset with him,” Burt replied. “She knew they had her best interests at heart, but she didn’t want them to get worried some more. She kept insisting that she was going to try to work it out for one last time. Then she assured George that if there were any more problems, she would leave for good. So George left early that evening after their talk and said he would check up on her the following day. He called her again later and said he and Sandy would like to take her out to dinner, but she said no. She told him that Robert had called and said he was leaving on a trip to New York and would be back in a couple of days.”
April wiped her eyes and spoke softly. “Melissa told George one last thing that night—that she was going to bed early because she was tired and that she would be safe and that all would be peaceful for the night.”
Burt’s heart was heavy as he uttered one more detail. “That was the last George heard from her.”
Burt hung his head.
April let out a long sigh.
Sean sat in silence and anxiously gazed at Ashley’s face.
“So you can see that since the police found out George was the last person she called, and he had been seen by a neighbor at her house early that evening, he immediately became a suspect in her murder,” Burt said.
April piped in. “But he wasn’t hanging around her place late at night like that witness had said. It was a lie. It turned out that witness was friends with Robert Anderson. And it didn’t help that Robert Anderson said during the trial that he suspected his wife of having an affair with George then twisted the truth to make it sound like she was scared of George instead of Robert. Melissa’s no-good husband even had the gall to lie and tell the jury that the reason he had a mistress was because Melissa’s affair was so hurtful to him. There was no limit to what that man was willing to lie about.”
Burt went on to explain that after an intense investigation, George was found innocent, but the lengthy trial and the fact that he had lost a dear friend in such a horrible way had taken its toll on his brother.
“He kind of lost his footing after that,” Burt said. “That’s why he hits the bottle from time to time, Ash. I’m sorry.”
Ashley looked sorrowfully at her parents. “That’s okay, Dad. I completely understand now. Poor Uncle George.”
April sighed. “Yes, poor George. He still feels guilty that he didn’t succeed in getting Melissa to leave her house that night.”
Ashley exhaled. “I’m sure that he probably feels she would still be alive if he had.”
Ashley thought of George sitting in the big recliner at her parents’ last party. He had a full glass of whiskey and some tears in his eyes. She had walked by him and asked him if he was okay.
“You betcha! Just thinking how much I love my favorite niece!” he had said. Then he had given her a crushing hug. How awful it must have been for him all these years.
April had a deep look of concern on her face. “Do you forgive us for not telling you about this?”
Her mom looked at her like a little girl as she waited for her daughter’s answer.
“Of course I do,” Ashley said. She got up and hugged both her parents.
Then she walked over to Sean and put her hand out to him.
Sean was confused. “We’re going already?”
“In a minute,” Ashley said. “But not before I speak my piece.” She took a deep breath.
“Look, I understand now a lot of things I didn’t before. Not only about this case, but the effect it had on so many people in this small town. People I know. People I love. And, now more than ever, I’m going to help in any way that I can to solve it. I know that you all love me and are worried about me, and even though Uncle George was found innocent, it’s not right to have Melissa’s murder go unsolved. It’s not right for George, who suffered so much for being suspected of murder, for his wife, Sandy, for you both, who’ve kept this a secret, for Melissa Anderson’s parents, and most of all for Melissa herself. She deserves justice after all these years. I promise I won’t do anything foolish, but I also promise that I’m going to help, so please just understand. That’s all I ask.”
There was a moment of quiet, then Sean started to object.
Burt quickly cut him off. “Listen, son, I know you’re worried about her. But you knew what you were getting into when you decided to move in with her. Don’t let your worries about her be a reason to hold her back. She’s a strong spirit, and you’ve got to let her fly.”
Sean blinked. He had never known Burt to disagree with him before. He was surprised but also in admiration of Burt’s defense of his daughter.
April put her hand in Sean’s. “Burt’s right. You are the best guy for Ashley. We know that. But you have to fasten your seatbelt with her, just like we’ve had to do all these years.”
Ashley smiled weakly at all of them. “But you can still warn me when I’m going too far.”
“No need to worry about that,” Sean said.
He gave Ashley a big hug.
Burt was eager to change the subject. “All this heavy talk has made me hungry again. I’m going to cheer myself up with another piece of rhubarb pie.”
“There’s only one piece left, dear,” April said.
Burt yelled as he strode off to the kitchen. “And it’s mine!”
Ashley smiled. “We’re going to get out of here, Mom. Love you.”
Sean followed suit. “Yeah, baker’s hours, you know. No movie now for us. Have to be up early.” He hugged April tightly. “Thanks for the great dinner.”
“Night, dears. Drive carefully,” April said.
Ashley and Sean walked to the front door, and Ashley quickly popped her head into the kitchen. Burt was standing over the sink, eating the last of the pie right out of the tin.
“Night, Dad. Love you.”
He raised his fork with the last chunk of pie on it. “Night, honey. Don’t get in trouble and make me regret what I said. I’ll tell your uncle George that you’re coming to see him.”
Chapter Twenty
Sean and Ashley drove home quietly. With full stomachs and even fuller minds and hearts, there was no need to chatter. So much of life came down to this. Loving and caring, but also taking a risk. It was quiet outside, and for all appearances, Comfortville looked like it didn’t have a care in the world. But underneath, every place had its history—and its secrets. Now, hopefully, one of its darkest ones would be solved soon.
When they got back to their apartment, Charlie and Susie Q were nowhere to be found. Ashley and Sean went from the living room, to the kitchen, to the bedroom, calling out their names. Finally, Charlie came out from under the bed. He looked wide eyed, and his tail was puffed. Ashley picked him up and gave him some pets.
“Why were you hiding under the bed? And where is Susie Q?” she asked.
“Ash, come here now,” Sean said
.
“What?” she asked as she followed Sean’s voice into the bathroom. Written in lipstick on the vanity mirror was a message—Stay out of it or your cat dies!
Ashley laughed.
Sean was confused. “Why are you laughing? Someone’s been in here!”
Ashley scoffed. “Because that’s crazy! It looks like a kid’s writing. And in lipstick? Who does that anymore?”
“Well, where’s Susie Q, then?” he asked.
Reality sunk in. Ashley let out a loud cry. “Susie Q!”
Before she had any time to look for Susie some more, there was a knock at the door.
Sean and Ashley both jumped.
Sean yelled out, “Who is it?”
“Shh,” Ashley said.
Sean walked quietly to the door and looked through the peephole. He whispered to Ashley. “It’s Nancy.”
“Let her in,” Ashley said.
Sean opened the door.
Nancy quickly walked in the apartment, her face pale and her hair sticking up. She began rambling. “There was a red-headed man hanging out near the apartment complex after you left. It was dark already, and I couldn’t see his face, but I saw his hair when he got near the courtyard light. Don’t know when he showed up, but he gave me bad feelings. I went inside and tried to make dinner, but I could barely eat it. I came outside about a half hour later and saw him running off. He had a big bag with him I hadn’t noticed before when he was hanging out. Are you missing something?”
“Yes, our cat, Susie Q!” Sean said.
Ashley started to wheeze.
Sean darted from room to room, calling the cat again. Charlie followed him, yowling.
“She’s not here, Ashley,” Sean said.
“She must have been in that bag,” Nancy said. “I’m so sorry. I tried calling you several times, but your phone went straight to voice mail.”
Ashley remembered that she had turned her phone off to have the big talk with her family about Uncle George and the case.
Ashley Crane Cozy Mystery Boxed Set Page 40