“That’s when I got the bat. I picked it up and felt its weight. I took a few practice swings and then walked over to where he was sleeping. I said a prayer; you know the one: ‘Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep…’”
I nodded slowly to indicate I knew what she was talking about.
She continued, “I pretended I was at the plate and had gotten the signal to swing for the fences, and I did. I looked down and couldn’t believe it at first. But he was dead, really dead. I called my mom, and she drove over. We rolled him up in a carpet and drove him over to the Cedar Bog. I dug as best I could, and then we unrolled him, dropped him in the grave, and covered him up. We tossed the carpet in an apartment dumpster on the way back. I used a whole bottle of bleach washing down that kitchen. Who knew it would take the police three years to find him or that there would be anything left to find?”
I asked, “How did Ben find out?”
“He didn’t. He was blackmailing me because I didn’t want people to know someone was poisoned in my last place, the Purple Plum.” Her eyes welled. “Paul did that, you know.”
“Paul poisoned the man?”
“Yes. I told you the other day. It was the last straw. He thought Dennis—that was the guy’s name—was putting the moves on me. I got a black eye over that one, and Dennis got dead.”
“You should have gone to the police after you killed your husband. You could have claimed self-defense.”
“Killing a sleeping man? Get real. He made my life a prison while he was alive. I didn’t want to live in a prison after he was dead.”
I arched my eyebrows. “So you killed two more people?”
“I didn’t kill them. Mom did. She didn’t want me to go to prison either.”
“Enough talk.” Gloria edged closer to me with the knife. “Nobody is going to hurt my daughter ever again.”
She was about a foot away when my back window shattered, a brick sailing through it and landing on the floor. We all jumped. I seized the moment to kick the knife out of Gloria’s hand. It flew across the room. A second later, Rob leapt through the window as Jay barreled through the back door.
Jay tackled Gloria, and another policeman came in and cuffed Suzie. Jay read them their rights.
Dazed, I stood and looked at the camera. “Thanks for tuning in, folks. I’ll complete this educational session another evening. Don’t forget to click on the follow button if you like what you’ve seen tonight. Signing out, this is Merry March of the Meredith March Insurance Agency.” I closed the session and fainted.
When I came to, I was lying on the living room sofa being fanned with a newspaper by Rob as Jenny held ice to my cheek. “What happened?”
“You fainted,” Rob said.
“How’d you know I was in trouble? I was never so glad to see my kitchen window smashed in my life.”
Jenny said, “You know you were still broadcasting, right?”
“Yes. I thought I’d get rid of whoever was at the door or try to work them into the broadcast. Suzie and her mother forced their way in. I tried to tell them I was in the middle of the show, but they didn’t give me a chance.”
“It was a good thing. That’s how we knew you were in trouble,” Rob said.
“But you couldn’t have been watching it. You were at Jenny’s game, and Jenny was playing.”
“My phone blew up with texts. I knew something was going on, so I logged in to watch. Seeing the two of them threaten you, I called Jay. He had already heard from three other people. Needless to say, I grabbed Jenny, and we hightailed it over here. I was never so scared! Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.” I struggled to get to my feet. Feeling woozy, I sat back down. “Maybe not a good idea yet. That adrenaline rush is a killer. Ha ha, a killer, get it?” I dissolved into hopeless laughter and then tears.
Rob touched Jenny’s arm. “I’m going to go get some brandy. Stay with your mom?”
“I’m not leaving her.” Jenny sat and put her arm around me. “It’s okay, Mom. All the bad guys are locked up now. Plus, there is a positive side.”
My mouth sagged. “Positive side?”
“I checked your stats. You normally average about twenty people per session, right?”
“Yes.”
“Well, you started out with eighteen people watching at 7:05 p.m., and by the time Rob threw the brick in the window, over two hundred thousand people were on, and nearly one hundred thousand of them are now following you. You’re famous. And who knows how many people are viewing the replay right now?”
Rob returned with some brandy. “Now take this slow. You know what happens when you drink it too quickly.”
I took a sip and then carefully put it down on the coffee table. “What a day.”
Chapter 30
Jenny insisted on sleeping with me. She said she was worried about me being scared. I think she was a little scared too. Seeing the morning light play on her face, I marveled to be so blessed. I felt incredibly happy. I survived everything that happened the night before and was alive on this lovely morning with my amazing and talented daughter within reach. I watched her slow, deep, even breathing and felt at peace with the world.
The door banged open. Rob stood there with a large tray full of blueberry pancakes. Jenny jolted awake. “Hey, we were sleeping!”
“I’m so sorry. I’ll take your pancakes back downstairs.” He backed out the door.
She sat up quickly. “No need to trouble yourself. You can leave them here with us.”
Smiling, he set the tray down at the foot of the bed and handed me a mug of coffee.
“Heaven,” I said as I sipped. “Pure heaven.”
He gave us both napkins and silverware. “There seems to be only one tray, so one of you is going to have to balance your plate.”
I pointed toward the dresser. “If you look behind it, you’ll see another one.”
He brought it over and set Jenny’s place. Jenny and I made ourselves comfortable against the pillows and headboard, and he deposited a tray on each of our laps.
Jenny closed her eyes and chewed slowly. “Pancakes and hot chocolate in bed. Best morning ever.”
“It’s got to be up there.”
“Text when you’re done, and I’ll get the trays. FYI, Jay will be stopping by around ten thirty.” He shut the door.
Jenny held up her mug. “To the best mom ever.”
I smiled and raised my mug. “To the most fabulous daughter ever.”
We both drank and finished our breakfast. “I hate to say this, but I need to get going if Jay is going to be here soon.”
“Party pooper.” Jenny got out of bed. “Why don’t you jump in the shower? I’ll take the dishes down to Mr. Jenson.”
I stood in the shower, letting the hot water stream over me. Suzie might have had such a different life if she had never met Paul. All of this ugliness might never have happened. Our lives are forever changed by those we choose to love. Like mine. I thought Drew and I would be together forever. That didn’t work out. Rob would, though. He’d shown he could be counted on when it mattered most. Drying off, I swore that from now on I would leave murder investigations to the police.
Jenny knocked on the door. “Jay’s here. And it’s a good thing because you must be a total prune by now.”
I poked my head around the door. “That’s a laugh, oh ye of the marathon showers. I’ll be down in a minute.”
Jay was sitting at the counter eating a pancake and drinking coffee when I came into the kitchen. “It looks so dark in here with the window boarded up,” I said. “Who cleaned the mess up last night?”
Rob raised his hand. “Me, once the crime technicians were done. The window people will be out later this afternoon to take measurements. Hopefully they have one in stock.”
“Thank you. I appreciate you cleaning up and calling them.” I gave him a quick kiss. Then I took a step back and touched his face. “What are all these cuts?”
“T
he window won last night. Don’t worry. The EMTs cleaned me up.”
I kissed him again. “Thanks for sacrificing your good looks for me.”
Rob kissed me back. Jay cleared his throat. “I’m still here.”
Heat flooded my face. “Jay, what happens now?”
“Both Gloria and Suzie have gotten attorneys. They are going to have an uphill battle on their hands with such a public, recorded confession. Paula and John are also still in jail, although it’s likely John will make bail in the next day or so. I’ve issued a restraining order against him coming anywhere near you.”
“Thanks. I wonder if he’ll give Paula the money so she can make bail too.”
Rob and Jay both gave me an incredulous look. “Doubtful,” Rob said.
Jay stood. “Merry, I’ll need you to come down to the station today to make a formal statement.”
“I’ll bring her there,” Rob promised.
“And thanks for breakfast.” Jay made his way out the door.
Rob pulled me into his arms and gave me a long, slow kiss that I felt all the way to my toes. Hugging him even tighter, I returned his kiss with vigor.
Jenny cleared her throat and looked down at the floor. “Ahem, this is so embarrassing.”
“What happened to your clomping down the stairs? You could give people a bit of warning,” I said.
“I came down the stairs the way I always come down the stairs. I can’t help it if other people had their minds on other things. I’m going over to Cindy’s. Her mom said you owe her a call. Love you, Mom. Thanks again for the pancakes, Mr. Jenson.” She left.
Rob’s eyes brightened. “No one else is here, right?”
I laughed. “Not to my knowledge.”
“Good. Let’s pick up where we left off.” He swept me into his arms and started to carry me up the stairs.
The doorbell rang. He groaned. “Do we have to answer it?”
“Every piece of my body is screaming no, but with everything that’s been going on lately, we probably should.”
I ran down the stairs, opened the door, and gasped. “Drew! When did you get out?”
About the Author
Eileen Hammond is an author who recently retired from a successful marketing career in the insurance industry. She and her husband share the house with two cats that are determined to train them. Rounding out the household are two koi, Daisy and Rose, as well as assorted shubunkins and minnows. Tending to this menagerie, writing, and rescuing the frog population from certain death in the pool keep her busy.
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